Asal downs Wilhelmi to reach Qatar Classic quarters; Gohar sets up El…

Doha, Qatar: World No.1 Mostafa Asal survived a spirited challenge from Switzerland’s Yannick Wilhelmi to advance to the quarter-finals of the 2026 Qatar Classic yesterday. tr-sport.click

The reigning World Champion was pushed hard during the high-intensity 48-minute encounter before he eventually secured an 11-5, 11-4, 11-3 victory at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.

Despite Wilhelmi’s impressive resistance, the top seed Asal dropped just 12 points across the three-game contest to keep his pursuit of a maiden Qatar Classic title on track.

Asal, who has known Wilhelmi since their junior days, was full of praise for the Swiss player after the match.

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“Yeah, for sure. I’ve been playing with Yannick all over the years. Since I was 14 or 13, the British Junior Open and the World Open,” Asal said.

“He’s a pretty good guy on and off court and I’m really happy to see him in that place and challenging the top boys. He’s another Swiss on the road. I played against Niki and now Yannick, so I’m pretty pleased with that.”

“I’m trying to make myself as sharp as I can. It’s a big push at the beginning to kick off the season,” Asal, who finished runner up at the Qatar event on the last two occasions, said.

Earlier, World No.9 Marwan ElShorbagy also progressed after overcoming compatriot Curtis Malik 11-5, 11-9, 11-7 in 35 minutes. France’s Gregoire Marche was also victorious, fighting back from losing the opening game to defeat American Timothy Brownell 5-11, 11-6, 11-7, 11-9 in 46 minutes. World No.13 Aly Abou Eleinen also advanced, defeating France’s Baptiste Masotti 11-5, 11-9, 11-2 in 41 minutes.

Meanwhile, on the women’s draw, former World No.1 Nouran Gohar survived a dramatic five-game battle with compatriot Malak Khafagy to book a quarter-final showdown with defending champion Hania El Hammamy.

Making her competitive return after a year away from the PSA Tour following the birth of her first child in April, fifth-seeded Gohar was pushed to the limit in a thrilling 91-minute contest as she eventually prevailed 11-7, 9-11, 13-11, 12-14, 11-9.

“I didn’t enjoy my squash today, but I did enjoy my resilience and mental toughness. I need to go through matches like these,” Gohar said after the win.

On her upcoming quarter-final with El Hammamy, she added: “I’m really looking forward to that match. It’s going to be competitive out there, but no pressure whatsoever. I’m looking forward to the match.”

El Hammamy, meanwhile, continued her title defence with a convincing 11-4, 11-8, 11-7 win over England’s Lucy Turmel in 39 minutes.

Belgium’s Tinne Gilis also produced a commendable performance, overcoming India’s Anahat Singh in five games. Gilis recovered from losing the second and third games to win 11-4, 8-11, 9-11, 11-4, 11-3 in 58 minutes.

Fourth seed Sivasangari Subramaniam also advanced, defeating Egypt’s Salma Hany 12-10, 11-6, 11-5 in just 26 minutes.

أكد أحمد الشعبي، رئيس الاتحاد القطري لكرة اليد، في تصريحات موسعة قبيل انطلاق منافسات دورة الألعاب الآسيوية العشرين (آيتشي ـ ناغويا 2026)، أن طموحات المنتخب الوطني العنابي تظل دائماً معلقة بقمم المجد والاعتلاء الدائم لمنصات التتويج القارية. وأوضح الشعبي أن المنتخب حفر اسمه بأحرف من نور في السجلات الآسيوية بعدما نجح بامتياز في تحقيق الميدالية الذهبية في آخر ثلاث نسخ متتالية، وهو إنجاز تاريخي استثنائي يضاعف من حجم المسؤولية الملقاة على عاتق المنظومة بأكملها للحفاظ على هذه الهيمنة المرموقة، مستطردًا بالتأكيد على أن الحفاظ على العرش الآسيوي والتتويج باللقب الرابع لن يكون أمراً سهلاً أو مفروشاً بالورود على الإطلاق، في ظل صراع محتدم واستعدادات مكثفة تسعى من خلالها كافة منتخبات القارة لكسر الاحتكار القطري للبطولة.

شرسة قتالية مضاعفة لإسقاط البطل

أوضح رئيس الاتحاد أن التحدي الأكبر يكمن في الطبيعة التنافسية الشرسة التي تنتظر عنابي اليد في ملاعب ناغويا، حيث ترصد جميع المنتخبات الآسيوية المنتخب القطري باعتباره الهدف الأبرز والبطل التاريخي الذي يسعى الجميع للإطاحة به. وأشار الشعبي إلى حقيقة ميدانية واضحة مفادها أن كافة المنافسين يلعبون أمام العنابي بكل قتالية وضراوة وبدون توقف لإثبات جدارتهم وتحقيق فارق تاريخي أمام البطل، مما يفرض على لاعبينا مضاعفة الجهود والتركيز القتالي طوال دقائق المباريات. وبين أن اتحاد اليد عمل بكل جدية على تجهيز وإعداد المنتخب بالشكل الأمثل والممكن في حدود الإمكانات المتاحة، مع السعي المستمر لتذليل كافة الصعاب وتوفير البيئة الملائمة للتحضير رغم التحديات الكبيرة وظروف الإعداد المختلفة للبطولة الآسيوية الكبرى.

مزيج الخبرة والشباب في مواجهة الغيابات

كشف الشعبي عن تحدٍ جوهرى واستثنائي يواجه المنتخب في هذه النسخة القارية، يتمثل في خوض غمار المنافسات بتشكيلة متوازنة ومخلوطة تمزج بين عناصر الكبار أصحاب الخبرة واللاعبين الصاعدين الشباب. وأشار إلى أن صفوف الفريق تلقت ضربات موجعة تمثلت في غياب عدد من الركائز الأساسية المؤثرة بسبب الإصابة، وهم: مصطفى هيبة، علاء الدين بالراشد، وائل عمر المزوقي، والحارس أحمد المنياوي، الذين لن يتمكنوا من المشاركة في الآسياد.
وعلى الرغم من تأثير هذه الغيابات وتفاوت الخبرات، أبدى رئيس الاتحاد ثقته المطلقة في المعدن الأصيل للاعبي العنابي والروح الوطنية العالية التي يتحلون بها، مختتمًا تصريحه برسالة حاسمة وقوية تعكس عزيمة المنظومة بالكامل، ومؤكدًا بالقول إننا سنقاتل بكل قوة وروح قتالية بلا توقف للدفاع عن اللقب القاري الغالي، وتشريف الرياضة القطرية وإسعاد الجماهير الوفيّة التي تقف خلف الفريق وتتطلع دائماً لرؤية عنابي اليد متربعاً على قمة القارة الصفراء.

إصرار بلا حدود على كتابة تاريخ جديد

وقال رئيس الاتحاد القطري لكرة اليد انه رغم قساوة الظروف التي واجهت المنتخب في التحضيرات وما رافقها من تحديات وغيابات وإصابات مؤثرة فالمنتخب عازم على الدفاع عن اللقب ، وشدد رئيس الاتحاد على أن العنابي يمضي قدماً وعينه على منصة التتويج باحثاً عن إنجاز تاريخي جديد يضاف إلى سجلات كرة اليد القطرية. وأبدى ثقته المطلقة في المعدن الأصيل للاعبي الفريق والروح الوطنية العالية التي يتحلون بها، مختتمًا تصريحه برسالة حاسمة وقوية تعكس عزيمة المنظومة بالكامل، ومؤكدًا بالقول إننا سنقاتل بكل قوة وروح قتالية بلا توقف للدفاع عن اللقب القاري الغالي، وتشريف الرياضة القطرية وإسعاد الجماهير الوفيّة التي تقف خلف الفريق وتتطلع دائماً لرؤية عنابي اليد متربعاً على قمة القارة الصفراء من جديد .

Doha, Qatar: Romeo At, the four-year-old Purebred Arabian colt, recorded the biggest success of his career by winning the Gr.1 (PA) UAE President Cup - UK Arabian Derby - over 2000m at Doncaster. The race was reserved for four-year-olds and attracted a field of six runners.

Trained by Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte, ridden by Tom Marquand and owned by Wathnan Racing, Romeo At showed plenty of courage to win at the highest level on his first start outside France.

The colt had already shown good form this season, winning the Gr.3 (PA) Prix Damas over 1600m at Bordeaux on his seasonal return. He then earned two places at Gr.1 (PA) level over 2000m, including a third-place finish in the Gr.1 (PA) Doha Cup (Prix Manganate) on his latest start. The victory at Doncaster, therefore, gave Romeo At the first Gr.1 (PA) success of his career.

Romeo At broke well but was immediately steadied by Tom Marquand, who initially tried to settle him behind. The colt raced quite keenly, however, and after around 200m his jockey allowed him to stride forward. Very free in the early stages, Romeo At moved into second position behind the leader Sab’Aan Al Shahania, with Laffan racing in third. The order remained mostly unchanged down the back straight, although Al Sharid moved forward to race alongside Laffan. Romeo At, meanwhile, began to settle better as the runners approached the final turn.

Turning into the straight, Marquand moved Romeo At away from the leader while keeping him in second position. Sab’Aan Al Shahania was still in front, with Laffan close behind, while Al Sharid came under strong pressure and began to lose ground. Inside the final 300m, Romeo At was still travelling comfortably while the leader was already being strongly ridden. Laffan looked to be the main danger and was also still travelling well.

Approaching the final 200m, Laffan came up alongside Romeo At and the pair began to pull clear of the others. Romeo At responded well when challenged and found more under pressure. Inside the final 100m, the two colts continued to fight, but Romeo At proved the stronger and stayed on gamely to win by one and a half lengths. Laffan finished second while Sab’Aan Al Shahania took third further back.

Doha, Qatar: Qatar U-23 coach Jose Angel Lacunza believes his young side can use the Asian Games football competition as an opportunity to gain valuable experience when they face Republic of Korea in their Group D opener at Mizuho Park Stadium in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, today.

Lacunza acknowledged the challenge facing Qatar in a group that also includes Saudi Arabia, but said his players remain confident despite a demanding schedule.

“Our group is small and includes strong teams. Despite the demanding match schedule and limited recovery time, we remain confident in our ambitions,” the Spanish coach said. Qatar will face Saudi Arabia in their second and final group match on Friday, with the top two teams advancing to the quarter-finals.

Lacunza said Qatar’s squad has a blend of young players, including members of the U-20 national team, and stressed the importance of building understanding among them.

“We have a young squad that includes players from the U20 national team, and we are working to strengthen the understanding and cohesion among them,” he said.

The coach also sees the tournament as an important platform for the players to test themselves against more experienced opponents.

“We are focused on improving ourselves through training and this tournament provides a valuable opportunity for the players to showcase their talent and gain experience by competing against older players,” Lacunza said.

Qatar, who won the Asian Games football gold medal in 2006, face a Republic of Korea side with a formidable record in the competition. The Koreans have won a record six gold medals and are seeking a fourth consecutive title after triumphs in 2014, 2018 and 2022.

The football competition begins ahead of the official opening ceremony on September 19. Fifteen teams are divided into four groups of four, while Group D features three teams. The top two from each group will advance to the quarter-finals, with the tournament then moving into the knockout stage.

Doha, Qatar: Alexander Zverev held off Ben Shelton to win the US Open on Sunday, September 13, 2026, claiming the second Grand Slam title of his career months after winning the French Open.

The 29-year-old then touched hearts as he paid tribute to his mother for refusing to let diabetes define his future.

At the trophy presentation, the top-seeded German said, "I want to thank one more person who is never actually watching my matches but is the most important person in my tennis life and in my life in general.

He went on to reveal that he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of four, saying, "When your four-year-old son gets diagnosed with diabetes, and doctors in the office tell you that life and sports will be very, very limited for that child, it takes a very very strong mother to walk out of those office and to say, 'My son will be whatever he wants to be.'"

To loud cheers, he added, "If he wants to be a tennis player, he will be a tennis player. If he wants to do something else, he'll do something else. But this illness will not define us and I am happy that we worked through it and we're doing things that we are doing right now."

His tribute left his father and longtime coach, Alexander Zverev Sr., in tears.

Zverev then went on to thank his coaching team, including his brother Mischa. “We went almost 30 years without winning a Grand Slam title and now we’ve won two in a span of three months,” he added.