logo
Qatar's Abdulwahab makes history with round of 64 berth

Qatar's Abdulwahab makes history with round of 64 berth

Qatar Tribune18-05-2025

Tribune News Network
Doha
In a landmark moment for Qatari table tennis, Mohamed Abdulwahab has made history by advancing to the round of 64 at the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Doha 2025, which got underway today at the Lusail Multipurpose Hall and Qatar University Sports Complex on Satuday.
Facing New Zealand's World 104th Alfred Della Pena in the round of 128, Abdulwahab delivered a commanding performance, winning 4-0 (11-5, 11-2, 15-13, 11-1) to become the first-ever Qatari player to reach the main draw of the men's singles event at a World Championship.
Speaking after the match, Abdulwahab expressed his pride at achieving what he called a 'historic and unprecedented' result.
'I am proud of this result, especially knowing that even some of the world's best players were knocked out in the first round,' he said. 'Qualifying for the next stage is a huge honour for me — my happiness is indescribable.'
Abdulwahab, who was also chosen to take the players' oath during the opening ceremony, said the honour marked the beginning of a truly unforgettable tournament experience. 'Being selected to take the oath on behalf of all participating players was already a moment of great pride for me,' he said.
'This result builds on that, and I hope to continue performing at my best in the upcoming rounds.'
Tenth seed Dang Qiu survives
Meanwhile, It's was a frantic start to the World Championships in the morning session, with tenth seed Dang Qiu requiring late inspiration to fend off a dangerous challenge from Filip Zeljko (11-6, 7-11, 11-5, 6-11, 11-8, 3-11, 11-8).
Qiu, who reached the last 16 two years back at 2023 Worlds, was looking for four wins in a row against his Croatian counterpart, but Zeljko was out to make a statement, pushing his former youth rival all the way. Three times Zeljko trailed, and he responded to each setback with a positive mentality, going for his shots in the pressure moments to keep Qiu on his toes.
Six games weren't enough to find a winner as Zeljko refused to go down without a fight, holding a 6-7 lead in the decider. With time running out, Qiu needed to find something late on, and he'd eventually weather the storm, digging deep in the closing stages of the match to squeeze into the second round.
Breathing a huge sigh of relief, Qiu now turns his attention to the round of 64 where Tom Jarvis awaits.
Jarvis banked his spot beyond the opening hurdle thanks to a 4-1 win over Benedek Olah, keeping his composure after a third game setback to ignite his in Doha (11-7, 11-6, 5-11, 11-8, 11-5).
'He's a very tricky player, he's got a lot of quality and if you're not careful you can make it really difficult for yourself. I lost a close match to him at the end of last year, so I went back and reviewed that and had lots of conversations with the coach, made a gameplan and did a lot of good preparation. Luckily, I was able to execute today.' Jarvis said.
Meanwhile, Giulia Takahashi has made an impactful start on her singles debut at Worlds, sending a message of intent to the rest of the playing field with a ruthless 4-0 victory over Hope Udoaka (11-3, 11-1, 11-6, 11-8).
Competing at the ITTF World Youth Championships on multiple occasions, this was the first time Giulia had stepped up on the senior stage, and she couldn't have asked for a more perfect debut. Controlling the pace from start to finish, Takahashi enjoyed her time at the table, playing with an air of freedom as she embraced the spotlight on one of the sport's most historic stages.
Despite her best efforts, Udoaka couldn't live with Takahashi's aggression, and after four games the W firmly belonged to the Brazilian ace. 'It was my first match so I was a little bit nervous, and my first tactic was to be calm. My coach was always there shouting to me, 'be calm, come on Giulia.' He was supporting me and I think this was the most important for me.' Giulia Takahashi
Over on Table 1, Sun Yingsha kickstarted her title defence with a complete performance, brushing aside Veronika Matiunina in dominant fashion (11-5, 11-6, 11-5, 11-7).
The 2023 champ was facing a somewhat unknown quantity in Matiunina, taking on the rising star for the first time. But there was no huge shock to write home about as ShaSha delivered a professional display, sticking the landing in four games to move on through to the last 64.
'It's my first match in the Championships and my performance was within my normal range. I wasn't quite familiar with my opponent – I got to know who I was up against two or three days after my arrival. The most important thing that I need to do is to focus, upon which I have done a great job. I hope to be in my best form as the tournament progresses.' Sun Yingsha
Japan's seventh seed Satsuki Odo began her championship with a confident 4-0 victory (11-5, 11-10, 11-8, 11-5) against Paulina Vega.
South Korea's Shin Yubin delivered a decisive 4-0 (11-5, 11-7, 11-3, 11-3) result against Lisa Gear, while Li Yu-Jhun defeated Daniela Fonseca 4-0 (11-7, 11-8, 11-5, 11-5). In a more competitive encounter, Andreea Dragoman overcame Jinnipa Sawettabut 4-1 (11-5, 6-11, 11-6, 11-3, 11-7), to kickstart her campaign.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Rakan Al Harith finishes creditable 7th at Asian Artistic Gymnastics
Rakan Al Harith finishes creditable 7th at Asian Artistic Gymnastics

Qatar Tribune

time15 hours ago

  • Qatar Tribune

Rakan Al Harith finishes creditable 7th at Asian Artistic Gymnastics

Tribune News Network Jecheon (South Korea) Qatar gymnast Rakan Al Harith concluded his campaign at the 12th Senior Asian Artistic Gymnastics Championships by securing a creditable seventh place in the pommel horse final. The major continental event featured elite gymnasts from across Asia and the world, including Olympic champions and internationally ranked athletes. Al Harith's placement among the top eight in Asia is considered a positive result, especially given the intense level of competition and the presence of some of the most decorated athletes from nations with strong gymnastics traditions. He had earlier delivered an outstanding performance in the qualification round, scoring 13.566 points, composed of difficulty and execution scores, affirming his notable progress and underscoring the steady rise of Qatari gymnastics on the continental stage. Qualifying for the final was a milestone in itself for Rakan, marking his first appearance in an Asian final. His advancement, achieved against some of the continent's and world's finest athletes, is a testament to both his personal growth and the strength of his performance under pressure. Ali Al Hitmi, President of Qatar Gymnastics Federation, praised Rakan's strong showing at the championship. In a media statement, he described the achievement as a significant step in the federation's journey, reflecting the success of its long-term investment in national talent and technical infrastructure. Al Hitmi highlighted that Qatar's presence in such a high-profile competition—through a young gymnast securing a spot among Asia's top eight on the pommel horse—is a source of national pride. Al Hitmi acknowledged that while the goal had shifted to competing for the title after qualifying for the final, finishing in the top eight in a debut appearance is, in itself, an achievement. He expressed hope that this experience would serve as a foundation for further development and greater competitiveness in major regional, continental, and global championships. He concluded by emphasizing that this accomplishment is the result of collective effort, reflecting the overall growth of gymnastics in Qatar and the strong support from the country's sports leadership. He noted that having a Qatari athlete reach an Asian final of this caliber is a valuable gain for Qatari sport as a whole—and for gymnastics in particular.

Qatar's national 3x3 basketball teams make quantum leap in world rankings
Qatar's national 3x3 basketball teams make quantum leap in world rankings

Qatar Tribune

time15 hours ago

  • Qatar Tribune

Qatar's national 3x3 basketball teams make quantum leap in world rankings

Tribune News Network Doha The Qatar national 3x3 basketball team achieved a significant milestone in the FIBA world rankings rising to 18th place with a total of 1,131,976 points, moving up from 23rd and surpassing teams such as Poland, New Zealand, Canada, the Czech Republic, Greece, Italy, the Philippines, and Australia. Meanwhile, the QatarU-23 3x3 national team has made a remarkable leap of 19 places to secure the fifth position in the world with 832,921 points, outpacing established teams like China, Japan, Latvia, Algeria, the Netherlands, and Italy, thus achieving its highest ranking to date, previously being ranked 24th. The impressive progress is indicative of the extensive efforts being made by the Qatari sports system, particularly by the Qatar Basketball Federation. This advancement is a direct result of the strong performances exhibited by both teams in various international tournaments, which have played a crucial role in elevating their global standings and solidifying their status among the elite teams worldwide. This notable improvement in the rankings of the Qatar basketball teams also signifies that the sport is on the brink of a new era of excellence, amidst widespread aspirations for further accomplishments in future events. This will bolster Qatar's presence in international arenas and actualize the national vision towards a sustainable sporting culture rooted in competition, passion, and achievement. The Qatar U-23 3x3 national team has firmly positioned itself on the continental stage, having won the third and sixth stages of the FIBA 3x3 Nations League - Asia-Pacific, which was hosted by the Qatar Basketball Federation in Doha from May 28 to June 3, featuring 12 of the world's leading teams. Qatar amassed 520 points during these competitions, securing victories in two stages and finishing as runners-up in the first, second, and fourth stages. This achievement places them in a favorable position to qualify for the World Championships set to take place in Xiong'an, China, from September 17 to 21, pending the conclusion of the remaining continental qualifiers. QBF President Mohammed bin Saad Al Mughaiseeb expressed his great pride in the achievement, stressing that this accomplishment is the result of long-term planning and continuous efforts from everyone. He said: 'We are very proud of this advancement in the world rankings, as it reflects the hard work undertaken by the national team at all levels. We faced difficult challenges and achieved positive results that helped us improve our ranking. This unprecedented position is a major morale boost and confirms that Qatar basketball is heading in the right direction. On this occasion, I can only extend my thanks and gratitude to His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, for his continuous support and constant interest in the sport of basketball.' For his part, Saadoun Sabah Al Kuwari, QBF Secretary-General, also expressed his happiness with this achievement, describing it as the culmination of a period of hard institutional work and continuous development. He said: 'What has been achieved is the result of organized teamwork, reflecting the Federation's commitment to developing the game at all levels. The world ranking is not just a number; it is an indicator of the maturity of the sporting project led by Qatar, and proof that our technical plans are on the right track. We promise the Qatar fans more achievements and championships in the coming period.' Meanwhile, Captain Yassin Ismail, Director of the National Basketball Teams (3x3), commended the achievements of the first and under-23 teams, considering their advancement in the world rankings the fruit of long-term commitment and discipline from the players and the technical staff. 'We have made significant progress in the 3x3 category, and have benefited from hosting the various stages of the Nations League, where the national team has shown a high level of technical performance. Winning two stages and being on the podium in most of the stages reflects our consistent performance. We are close to securing a place in the World Championship, and this is a major goal that we are working towards with all seriousness. What has been achieved so far is honorable, but we aspire for more,' he said.

Qatar to wrap up preparations for Tuesday's Uzbekistan match
Qatar to wrap up preparations for Tuesday's Uzbekistan match

Qatar Tribune

time2 days ago

  • Qatar Tribune

Qatar to wrap up preparations for Tuesday's Uzbekistan match

TASHKENT: On Monday, the Qatari national football team will conclude its preparations for its upcoming match against host, Uzbekistan, at Bunyodkor Stadium on Tuesday, 4.45pm Doha time. The match marks the 10th and final round of Group A in the third set of Asian qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 26, to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Qatari team arrived in the Uzbek capital on Sunday evening and will hold their final training session at Bunyodkor Stadium on Monday, which is also when Head coach Julen Lopetegui will give the pre-match press conference. Earlier on Sunday, the Qatari squad trained at Khalifa International Stadium, with the coaching staff focusing on physical preparation, as well as tactical and technical aspects of play. Coach Lopetegui called up Nabil Erfan from Al Wakrah and Mohammed Ayash from Al Duhail to join the national team for the Uzbekistan match. Although mostly a formality for the reigning two-time AFC Asian Cup champions, Qatar's head coach wants the Uzbekistan match to maintain Qatar's upward momentum and build on the morale boost from their 1-0 victory over group leaders, Iran, in the previous round, which was Iran's first loss in the current qualifiers. Currently sitting 4th in the group with 13 points from four wins, Qatar have already secured a place in the Asian playoff round, along with the UAE. Iran leads the group with 20 points, followed by Uzbekistan with 18, the UAE 14, Qatar 13, Kyrgyzstan 7, and North Korea 3. Iran and Uzbekistan have already clinched the group's two direct qualification spots for the FIFA World Cup 26.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store