Latest news with #20thAsianGames
The Star
29-07-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Local surfers aiming high
Surf's up for the team heading to India, pictured with PLOM president and secretary Kamaruzaman Mohd (sixth from left). Six Malaysians will compete at Asian Surfing Championship 2025 in India next month, with hopes of catching the waves on larger global platforms. The Aug 3 to 12 tournament in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, is a key event on the Asian Surfing Federation (ASF) calendar and serves as a qualifier for the 20th Asian Games in Japan in 2026. Leading the national squad is 25-year-old Muhamad Nor Afiq Haikal Mohd Nor Azizi, from Cherating in Pahang, according to an ASF media statement. The surf instructor also known as Kal, a consistent performer at both local and regional competitions, was a dual shortboard and longboard champion at the Tioman and Kejora surf festivals. He has also competed in World Surf League-sanctioned and Asian Surfing Tour events. 'My ultimate aim is to represent Malaysia in the Olympics and grow the sport here,' he stated in his athlete profile. Joining him in the Men's Open division is 16-year-old Lucas Santiago Wehle, a Malaysian-German surfer raised in Ericeira, Portugal. Lucas, currently ranked first nationally in the Under-16 category, will also compete in the Junior Under-18 Boys division. He trains under elite coaches Joao de Macedo and Eric Rebiere, and has placed in competitions in Portugal, France, Germany and Malaysia. Mohd Nazrin Nasruddin rounds out the men's team. In the Women's Open category, seasoned competitor Nurain Mat Isa – or Pinky – returns to the international stage. The 35-year-old founder of Pink Sunset Surf School in Batu Caves, Selangor, is a two-time podium finisher at the 2024 Tioman Surf Festival. Nurain has represented Malaysia in contests across Malaysia and Thailand. Joining her are Tun Athirah Shah Norazhar and Mona Rasidah Abdul Rashid. Tun Athirah, 28, is a Tioman-based resort manager with multiple top-three finishes at Desaru, Sabah and Tioman surf festivals. All six athletes will undergo a week-long training camp at Cimaja Beach, West Java, ahead of the championship. The camp aims to build wave-readiness, fitness and team cohesion. The team is competing under National Sports Council's (NSC) Projek Khas 3 Sukan Olimpik, an elite programme targeting Olympic sports that include surfing.
Qatar Tribune
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
QOC President meets Japanese Ambassador to Qatar
H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), met on Thursday with H.E. Naoto Hisajima, Ambassador of Japan to the State of Qatar, at the QOC headquarters. The meeting was attended by H.E. Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain, Secretary General of the QOC. The meeting reviewed the strong sporting ties between the two countries and explored ways to further develop and strengthen cooperation in the coming period. Discussions also touched on topics of mutual interest, including preparations for the upcoming World Athletics Championships-Tokyo 2025 and the 20th Asian Games- Nagoya 2026. The meeting also discussed the promising opportunities for exchanging expertise between the two friendly nations in the fields of sports administration and the organization of major events, building on the extensive experience both sides possess in this domain — most notably Japan's hosting of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and Qatar's successful staging of major world championships, including the recently concluded ITTF World Table Tennis Championships – Doha 2025. H.E. Sheikh Joaan reaffirmed the Qatar Olympic Committee's commitment to expanding international cooperation and knowledge exchange with friendly countries. He noted that the Qatari–Japanese partnership serves as a promising model for synergy in advancing the aspirations of the Olympic Movement and promoting sustainability and innovation in the sports sector at both regional and international levels.
Qatar Tribune
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
QOC president meets Japan's ambassador to Qatar
DOHA: President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani has met with Ambassador of Japan to the State of Qatar HE Naoto Hisajima. The meeting reviewed the strong sporting ties between the two countries and explored ways to further develop and strengthen cooperation in the coming period. Discussions also touched on topics of mutual interest, including preparations for the upcoming World Athletics Championships-Tokyo 2025 and the 20th Asian Games- Nagoya 2026. It also discussed the promising opportunities for exchanging expertise between the two nations in the fields of sports administration and the organization of major events, building on the extensive experience both sides possess in this domain. Sheikh Joaan reaffirmed the QOC's commitment to expanding international cooperation and knowledge exchange with friendly countries. He noted that the Qatari-Japanese partnership serves as a promising model for synergy in advancing the aspirations of the Olympic Movement and promoting sustainability and innovation in the sports sector at both regional and international levels. The meeting was attended by Secretary General of the QOC Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain.
The Mainichi
26-05-2025
- Politics
- The Mainichi
Nagoya assembly member signs up 26 residents as Asian Games volunteers without permission
NAGOYA -- A third-term municipal assembly member here signed up 26 city residents as volunteers for next year's 20th Asian Games without their permission, it has been learned. Nagoya Municipal Assembly vice speaker Shinsuke Uezono, 49, apologized for registering the citizens as volunteers for the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 games, as he struggled to meet his faction's quota of 30 per member, he explained at a press conference on May 25. He bowed in apology and mentioned feeling impatient after he could not gather enough names, having only signed up four people including himself and family members. He also said he worried that the false registrations would be found out. The Nagoya Municipal Government started an investigation and discovered the unauthorized registrations after inquiries began arriving around May 13, with citizens reporting, "I received an email saying a registration I have no memory of was completed," among similar complaints. Uezono stated that he used names, addresses, email addresses and phone numbers listed on business cards he had previously exchanged with the 26 residents. He registered each without their consent. For the required birth dates, Uezono admitted he "filled them in by guessing." Uezono belongs to the "Nagoya minshu shigidan," affiliated with the former Democratic Party of Japan, which had set volunteer registration quotas for its members. As the April 25 deadline approached, Uezono said he became desperate and believed that, because the 26 people were not close contacts, "no one would know who registered them." Bowing his head in apology, he said, "I treated the personal information carelessly." Uezono said he has already apologized to three of the people affected. Asked about his future as a member of the assembly, he said, "I want to first apologize to everyone involved and then consult with the faction before deciding how to respond," adding that he currently does not intend to resign. The city began seeking volunteers for the event last October, aiming for a total of 9,780 applications. The registration deadline was initially set for the end of January, but was extended to the end of April due to slow response rates. Several municipal assembly members have also been encouraging people to apply.
Qatar Tribune
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Sheikh Joaan meets with Bangladesh Olympic Association President
Tribune News Network Doha H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), met with General Waker-uz-Zaman, President of the Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA), who is currently visiting Doha. The meeting focused on exploring ways to strengthen bilateral sports cooperation and promote the exchange of expertise between both committees in the period ahead. The two sides discussed the ongoing progress of the Olympic movement in Bangladesh and the country's growing engagement at the continental level, reflecting its broader aspirations to cement a stronger presence on the Asian sports stage. His Excellency Sheikh Joaan reaffirmed the QOC's commitment to supporting National Olympic Committees across Asia and globally through knowledge exchange and collaborative initiatives aimed at fostering sustainable sports development and the advancement of the Olympic Movement. The talks also touched on preparations for the 20th Asian Games, set to be held next year in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Both sides exchanged views on ways to coordinate efforts and technical expertise to prepare their national teams, while exploring opportunities for bilateral cooperation in the lead-up to this major continental event. The visit highlighted Qatar's leading role in advancing sports development both regionally and internationally, and its commitment to strengthening strategic partnerships within the global Olympic community. At the conclusion of the meeting, both parties expressed their shared aspiration to maintain close coordination and collaboration, in a manner that will further deepen ties between the QOC and the BOA and bring direct benefits to athletes in both countries as they prepare for upcoming competitions.
