The Peninsula Hails Achievements of Qatari Sports

Doha, August 23 (QNA) - Qatari English-language The Peninsula newspaper said that Qatar is fast emerging as a sports power in the world, whether it's about hosting the major global, continental or regional competitions or performing at the top level, as it has taken a lead among the Arab nations in the sports field. Qatar recently celebrated their historic performance at the Olympic Games, winning two gold medals and a bronze medal at the Tokyo Games, the paper said, adding that the medal's tally - Team Qatar's best ever performance at the Games also made them the top performing Arabian side in the world's biggest sports event. The paper noted Qatar's outstanding performance at Olympics was followed by some remarkable performances at the Arab Table Tennis Championships in Amman, Jordan and the GCC Aquatics Championships in Doha. Qatar's football team is also making a significant improvement in the FIFA rankings, it added. When it comes to hosting the high profile sports events, Qatar is by far the best in the Arab world; in fact, the country is counted among the top nations in the world for organising the mega events, the paper underlined, pointing out that there are many sports competitions which the country brought for the first time in the Middle East including the 2018 FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships and the World Athletics Championships 2019. Both the global events hosted in Doha will be remembered for a long time to come. This year, the paper said, Qatar will stage the inaugural FIFA Arab Cup in November-December which will bring the Arab world together, adding that that event will be followed by the FIFA World Cup 2022 a pride not just for Qatar or the GCC states, it will be an honour for the entire Arab world. It will be the first time that football's showpiece event will be staged in the region, the paper said. Next in line are the FINA World Aquatics Championships Doha 2023 while Doha has also won the rights to host the 2030 Asian Games that will mark the second time that the Qatari capital will host the major continental event after the 2006 edition, the paper said. The Peninsula concluded that Qatar's success in sports is a result of flawless planning, years of continuous hardwork and all out support from countrys leadership, which is always in the forefront for promotion of sports and supporting the athletes, and that HE Qatar Olympic Committee President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani, who was constantly present to back the Team Qatar athletes every time they were in action during the Tokyo Games, is an example, stressing that such a support makes a huge difference as it motivates the sports officials and the athletes in achieving new milestones. (QNA)