DOHA: A host of international sports events are set to return to Qatar over the next four months starting with this month’s high-profile Diamond League athletics series and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League West Zone group matches.
AFC Champions League West Zone matches would kick off on 14 September followed by the Doha leg of the Diamond League series on 25 September at Qatar Sports Club.
In March, Qatar had to call off or postpone all international, regional and continental events due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Doha leg of the Diamond League which was to take place in the first week of May was also pushed back. The Doha leg is the ninth stop of the 12-leg series of the athletics tour.
Doha will stage 12 disciplines, with all eyes focussed on local hero and reigning high jump world champion Mutaz Essa Barshim as well as Asian 400m hurdles champion and World Championships bronze medallist Abderrahman Samba.
QOC announcement
The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) has announced many global, continental and local competitions for the rest of the year.
“The QOC adheres to the precautionary measures issued by the Ministry of Public Health to limit the spread of the coronavirus in all tournaments and sporting events for the safety of the athletes and participants,” QOC said in a statement.
Qatar’s sports fraternity is upbeat about the upcoming events. “We are happy for international events to be returning to Qatar this month. Sports in Qatar since the pandemic started has been heavily affected and thanks to the government’s easing of restrictions, we are now permitted to host international sports events,” said sports events director Samuel Rico.
Christopher Raja, who heads Bravo Cricket Academy, welcomed the return of international events. “Starting sports events is good in terms of revenue for the sports industry. A lot of sportsmen, especially from track and field, depend on international events like the Diamond League. They do not have regular sponsors and do not earn big money like football and cricket stars.”
Raja added: “The Diamond League making a stop in Doha is good for the athletes and also for the sports industry.”
Other events
Among the other events which have been lined up over the next few months is the 10-day FIFA Club World Cup. The tournament will go ahead from 9 December as planned. The high-profile FIBA World Tour – Doha Masters 2020 will be held from 21 November at Al Gharafa Sports Club.
Cricket action which came to a halt in Qatar in March will see some big stars in action in December.
The Qatar T10 Cricket League will take place from 6 to 17 December at Asian Industrial City Cricket Stadium, while the ACC T20 Cricket Tournament will also take place at the same venue from 6 to 18 December.
The Qatar International Show Jumping Championship will be held at the Qatar Equestrian Federation Arena from 14 to 16 November while Al Rayyan International Show Jumping Championship will take place at the same venue 12 days later.
The updated calendar also includes the Doha 2020 ASTC Triathlon Asian
Cup which will be held on 4 and 5 December.
Local events
Among local events, the highlights are the Qatar Cup volleyball final (30 September, Qatar Cup basketball final (13 October), Qatar Cup handball final (14 October), Amir Cup volleyball final (16 October) Amir Cup handball final (20 October) , Amir Cup basketball final (28 October) and the Amir Cup football final on 1 November.
Two GCC-level tournaments have been postponed, including the 28th GCC Aquatics Championship and the GCC basketball club championship.
The calendar, announced by the QOC, also includes the amendment of the dates of Qatar Men’s International Tennis Federation Championship, which will now be held from 12 to 18 October.
The Khalifa Tennis and Squash Complex will be one of the busiest venues in the coming months as it will host a number of local and international events, including the Qatar Classic Platinum Senior Squash Championship (1 to 7 November).
Postponements
A number of international tournaments have been postponed to next year, namely the Davis Cup, the 13th Artistic Gymnastics World Cup (men and women) and the table tennis final s and Tokyo Olympics qualifiers, the QOC said.
Meanwhile, the dates are not yet fixed for the Judo World Masters 2020, which will take place at the Ali bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena in Al Sadd.