The fifth Qatar International Taekwondo Championship, organized by the Qatar Taekwondo, Judo and Karate Federation, will begin tomorrow, Friday, at Lusail Hall, and will continue until next Monday, with the participation of 1,361 participants, including 1,021 male and female players, and 289 technicians and administrators, representing 175 national clubs and federations from 48 countries, divided into four categories: buds, juniors, youth, and adults.
The championship competitions will be held over four days, in the morning and evening periods, in several weights, with a total of 76 weights in the four categories, with 10 weights for the male buds category, 10 weights for the female buds category, 10 weights for juniors, and 10 weights for females, in addition to 10 weights for males and the same for females in the youth category, as well as 8 weights for men and the same for women in the adult category.
The Qatari Taekwondo team is participating in the tournament with eight male and female players: Nour Muhammad, Maram Al-Qatnassi, Ghazlan Al-Dosari, Muhammad Ashraf, Ajlan Al-Kuwari, Muhammad Yassin Bali, Ali Imam, and Mubarak Al-Kuwari, in addition to the participation of 18 clubs from inside Qatar, with a total of 102 male and female players, and 18 coaches, distributed as follows: 28 players in the Al-Baraem category, and 37 players in the Al-Baraem category. Juniors, 22 players in the youth category, and 15 players in the adult category.
The Qatari national team players prepared by participating in external camps in Spain from July to September, and internal camps, in addition to participating in the World Championship in China, the Islamic Solidarity Championship currently being held in Saudi Arabia, and the Asian Youth Games that were recently held in Bahrain.
The tournament also witnesses the participation of 42 referees, including Qatari international referee Kaltham Al-Mutawa. Winners will be crowned daily in various weights.
In this context, the Qatar Taekwondo, Judo and Karate Federation held a press conference attended by Messrs.: Mohammed Saeed Al-Misnad, Secretary General of the Federation, Rashid Mubarak Al-Hajri, Assistant Secretary, Hafeez Mahddi, the technical delegate of the tournament, Ms. Loy Bou, the tournament observer, Mohammed Ishaq, the tournament observer, Mohammed Adel, head of the arbitration committee, and Al-Mahdi Al-Jadidi, the technical expert of the Qatar Taekwondo Federation.
At the beginning of the conference, Mr. Mohammed Saeed Al-Misnad said, “The Fifth Qatar International Taekwondo Championship has proven to be a great success in past editions, and today we are witnessing confirmation of this success.”
Al-Misnad expressed his happiness at holding the fifth edition of the Qatar International Taekwondo Championship, praising the large and unprecedented turnout to participate in it.
The Secretary General of the Federation added that this edition is witnessing a historic turnout, as the number of participants exceeded a thousand athletes, with the number of participating countries reaching 48 countries, in addition to special participations, and registration is still open.
Al-Misnad explained that this large turnout of teams and players from various countries of the world represents a valuable opportunity for everyone to develop their sporting level during their participation in the tournament, whether from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries or from the rest of the Arab countries.
Al-Misnad stressed the complete readiness to host the tournament, and said: “Thanks to the efforts of the Union’s organizing committee, all capabilities and components have been provided to host the tournament in a distinctive and successful manner in the Lusail gym, which is characterized by international standards.”
The Secretary General of the Federation also praised the wide and diverse Qatari participation in the tournament, stressing that the presence of a large number of our male and female players in this international forum enhances the development of the game locally.
At the conclusion of his speech, Al-Misnad expressed his hope that the fifth edition of the tournament would achieve the usual success in all technical, organizational and administrative aspects, wishing success to all participating players, male and female.
For his part, Rashid Mubarak Al-Hajri, Assistant Secretary of the Qatari Federation, confirmed that all arrangements have been completed for the start of the competitions tomorrow.
Al-Hajri said during the press conference: “We are fully prepared for the start of the tournament, and we have completed all arrangements, including receiving delegations, accommodation, transportation, and organizing the Lusail Hall to receive the players.”
He added: “Our players have also prepared well for this tournament, whether by attending camps or participating in foreign tournaments, and they are looking forward to achieving outstanding results and reaching the podiums.”
At the end of his speech, he said: “We look forward to organizing an exceptional edition that will be added to the series of successful hosting of the Qatar Federation, similar to the World Judo Championship, the Judo Masters Championship, and the previous Qatar International Taekwondo Championships,” indicating that these successes are not strange to Qatar, which has distinguished itself in organizing various tournaments in various games.
In turn, Al Mahdi Al Jadidi, technical expert for the Qatar Taekwondo Federation, praised the large turnout of participants in the Fifth Qatar International Taekwondo Championship from around the world.
Al Jadidi said during the press conference that the reception of delegations went smoothly, and this is not strange for the State of Qatar, and the registration of players was carried out with ease, indicating that the preparation of the Lusail hall was carried out at the highest level.
He added: “For the first time in the history of international taekwondo championships, the latest electronic equipment will be used in the tournament, which is the same as that used in the 2024 Paris Olympics and in the recent World Championships in China, and it will be applied in all categories from budding to adults.”
He pointed out that the International Taekwondo Federation delegation made several inspection visits to Qatar to follow up on the preparations of the Lusail Hall, which will host the championship competitions, where the latest technologies were provided, including the “VAR 10” technology, which will be available for the first time, thanks to the unlimited support of the Qatar Olympic Committee and the President of the Qatar Taekwondo Federation, Mr. Eid Al Muraikhi, who was keen to provide all facilities for the tournament, wishing success to all participants.