More than 150 women compete in Seashore Phoenix Games

Doha: The sixth edition of the Seashore Phoenix Games 2026 is witnessing strong participation in its women’s competitions, which began today and continue until tomorrow at Aspire Ladies Hall.

More than 150 female athletes are taking part in the competitions according to the media relations specialist at Aspire Zone Foundation Tahani Al-Suwaidi, which feature three categories, Advanced Arab Women (RX), Women’s Doubles and Women’s Beginner Doubles.

The competitions includes athletes from Qatar and abroad, with challenges focused on strength, endurance, speed and performance under pressure. chickenroad.qpon

Around 80 percent of the total women’s participation are Qatari athletes, according to organisers, highlighting the growing interest in fitness competitions among women in Qatar.

The Advanced Arab Women category features 19 athletes, while the two doubles categories provide competition at advanced and beginner levels.

The judging panel includes around 30 female judges from Qatar, Russia, Egypt, the UAE and Jordan, overseeing the women’s competitions.

The women’s competitions are being held exclusively for female participants and attendees, with the programme running over two days.

A new live results system has also been introduced, allowing athletes and spectators to follow competition results as the events progress.

The Seashore Phoenix Games 2026 began on September 10 and runs until September 17, with the women’s competitions forming part of the wider championship programme.

The women’s competitions and the closing ceremony will conclude tomorrow, September 14, 2026.

Doha, Qatar: Boubakary Soumare fired a late equaliser as Al Duhail secured a 1-1 draw against Al Shahania in the Qatar Stars League at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium yesterday.

Al Duhail were trailing after Jawad El Jamili put Al Shahania ahead in the second half, but Soumare’s strike in the sixth minute of stoppage time rescued a point for the former champions.

Al Duhail moved to six points, level with Al Arabi, who also drew 0-0 with Qatar SC yesterday.

Leaders Al Sadd are two points clear of Al Rayyan after four straight wins, with Al Shamal third on eight points.

After a slow start, Al Shahania were first to threaten, with Salah Zakaria making a fine save to deny Francesco Antonucci’s dangerous effort from outside the box.

Shehab Ellethy produced an equally impressive save at the other end, stopping Soumare’s effort as the teams went into half-time level.

El Jamili broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute. Zakaria had earlier denied Antonucci with another long-range effort, but a poor clearance by Ibrahima Bamba allowed El Jamili to pounce and slot a diagonal shot into the far corner.

Tahsin Mohammed’s effort from outside the box was parried away as Al Duhail pushed for an equaliser.

They finally got it in the sixth minute of stoppage time. Shehab Mamdouh Ellethy saved Jean-Charles Castelletto’s header from a corner, but Soumare reacted quickly to the rebound and headed the ball into the net to rescue a draw.

Al Shahania, however, climbed to seventh place with four points.

At Al Thumama Stadium, Al Arabi and Qatar SC played out a draw in a scrappy clash that produced 36 fouls and two late red cards.

Al Arabi had the better chances, with Jordan Veretout coming closest in the fourth minute when his shot, following a cross from Rodrigo, struck the top corner of the right post.

Qatar SC threatened late in the match but Al Arabi goalkeeper Jasem Al Hail denied Faiz Selmani in the 85th minute, making a save in the bottom left corner.

Qatar SC were reduced to nine men in the closing stages. Abdulrasheed Umaru was sent off in the 89th minute after elbowing Rodrigo during an argument near the goal line, before Ali Saoudi received a second yellow card in stoppage time for arguing with the referee.

Qatar SC remained 11th with two points.

“It was a tough match. Al Arabi are a strong team. We didn’t avail ourselves of our chances, but hopefully the next match will be better,” said Qatar SC’s Mohammad Amin.

Al Arabi’s Lotfi Madjer said: “Honestly, I feel we deserved the win today. We did our part and executed the coach’s instructions. But that’s football. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose and sometimes you draw.”

Riyadh: Qatar swimming champion Nada Mohamed Wafa has been elected Chairperson of the Athletes Committee of the Islamic Solidarity Sports Association (ISSA) at the Association's General Assembly meeting in Taif, Saudi Arabia, attended by representatives of its member countries.

Wafa's election reflects her sporting achievements and extensive experience in regional and international competitions. In her new role, she will lead the committee tasked with representing athletes and promoting their participation in the Association's activities and events.

Her election reflects the confidence placed in Qatari sporting talent internationally and further strengthens Qatar's presence in regional and international sports organizations. It also reinforces Qatar's contribution to sports development and efforts to support athletes.

Nada Mohamed Wafa is one of Qatar's prominent sporting figures and has represented the country at numerous regional and international competitions, most notably at the 2012 Olympic Games in London and the 2019 World Aquatics Championships in South Korea.

Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s Abdulla Al Tamimi pushed former champion and Karim Abdel Gawad to his limits before the Egyptian fourth seed eventually prevailed 11-7, 15-13, 5-11, 11-8 in a 48-minute battle on the opening day of the $242,000 Qatar Classic 2026 in Doha yesterday.

At the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex, Al Tamimi, competing as a wildcard after returning to action from injury last month, showed his fighting qualities against the experienced campaigner. Qatar’s other representative, Salem Al-Malki, also saw his campaign come to an end, with France’s Melvil Scianimanico recording a 11-5, 11-5, 11-4 victory.

At the top of the men’s draw, World No.1 Mostafa Asal made a strong start to his Qatar Classic title bid, dispatching Switzerland’s Nicolas Mueller 11-6, 11-6, 11-4 in 26 minutes. Asal, twice a runner-up in Doha, immediately underlined his intentions as he looks to finally go all the way to the top in Doha.

Defending champion Paul Coll was equally impressive, beginning his title defence with an 11-2, 11-3, 11-1 demolition of India’s Veer Chotrani in 26 minutes.

One of the highlights of the day came when American Timothy Brownell stunned No.3 seed Diego Elias in a thrilling five-game battle.

The two-time former champion Elias took the first two games 11-5, 11-9, but Brownell fought back to win the next three 11-6, 11-5, 11-7 and complete a remarkable 57-minute comeback and clinch the biggest win of his career.

“I just wanted to say something about the tour here. Some people think the gap between the top and the bottom players is bigger than it is. Maybe at the very top it is, but the margins are thin. The more upsets there are the better. I’m really happy to get through and excited to get the win,” Brownell said after the win.

Meanwhile, seventh seed Marwan ElShorbagy moved through with a 11-5, 11-7, 11-7 victory over Spain’s Bernat Jaume, while No.8 seed Aly Abou Eleinen defeated Jamaica’s Declan James 11-6, 11-9, 11-7. No.6 seed Mohamad Zakaria also advanced, beating Germany’s Raphael Kandra 11-4, 11-3, 5-11, 11-5.

On the other hand, women’s draw produced one of the day’s biggest stories as former World No.1 Nouran Gohar marked her return to the Qatar Classic with a commanding victory over fellow Egyptian Kenzy Ayman.

Gohar, returning to the PSA Tour after a year away following the birth of her first child, needed just 22 minutes to secure an 11-7, 11-1, 11-3 victory.

Defending champion and top seed Hania El Hammamy also progressed, overcoming Hana Moataz 11-8, 11-7, 6-11, 11-8 in 46 minutes.

Three-time champion Nour ElSherbini survived a much tighter encounter with Nada Abbas, winning 11-8, 11-3, 11-13, 11-9 in 39 minutes.

Second seed and reigning World Champion Amina Orfi was another comfortable winner, defeating Hana Ramadan 11-2, 11-5, 11-5, while No.6 seed Fayrouz Aboelkheir, Belgium’s Tinne Gilis and England’s Georgina Kennedy were also among those who advance.

Madrid: Kimi Antonelli extended his lead in the world championship with his eighth victory of the season at the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix at the Madring on Sunday.

The 20-year-old Mercedes driver finished clear of Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and Lando Norris (McLaren) and is now 81 points ahead of nearest rival, his Mercedes teammate George Russell, in the title race.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) finished fourth ahead of fellow Briton Russell and Liam Lawson in the second Red Bull.

Franco Colapinto (Alpine), Oscar Piastri (McLaren), Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls) and Niko Hulkenberg (Audi) rounded out the top 10.

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who had scored points in every race this season, missed out completely, retiring his Ferrari on lap seven because of brake failure.

George Russell was another big loser, with the Mercedes driver suffering badly from his team's decision to put him on two-stop strategy - the only one of the main runners to have this - which blew his chances of podium and left him even further behind his teammate in the title race.

Norris will also rue his team's poor strategy.

The reigning world champion drove a blistering lap on Saturday to claim pole position and was leading comfortably until the intervention of the virtual safety car (VSC) on lap 15.

While Antonelli and Verstappen immediately dived into the pits to change their tyres McLaren kept Norris out for an extra lap.

As he prepared to come in, the VSC finished meaning he lost time against his rivals, and the Briton wasn't helped by a slow pitstop of seven seconds.

By the time he came out Norris was down in fifth with Leclerc, who hadn't boxed, and George Russell also ahead of him.

He clawed his way past Russell and moved into third when Leclerc finally boxed on lap 48 of the 57, at which point the lead was handed to Antonelli who cruised home to take the chequered flag.