Qatar is set to resume top-notch sports action after the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) last week announced an updated calendar which includes many major international and local competitions. The development has brought more cheers to fans who celebrated the return of football action last month after the events were suspended in March due to the coronavirus outbreak.
On Friday night, the 2018-19 champions Al Duhail regained the QNB Stars League (QSL) title glory following a 1-0 win over Al Ahli in their last round match, winning a thrilling two-way battle against Al Rayyan to lift their seventh Falcon Shield.
Apart from Al Duhail, there will be plenty of local and international champions to be crowned in Doha this year.
According to the QOC, the sports action will resume with the return of star-studded Diamond League meet to Doha next month. The top track and field event will be the ideal setting for the action-hungry fans in Qatar as home hero and the reigning high jump World Champion, Mutaz Essa Barshim is set to lead a star-cast on September 25 at the Qatar Sports Club.
Doha will stage 12 disciplines, with all eyes on Barshim, while the Asian 400m hurdles champion and IAAF World Championships bronze medal winner Abderrahman Samba is also set to thrill the home crowed.
Apart from that, the 10-day FIFA Club World Cup (December) and the FIBA World Tour – Doha Masters 2020 (November) are two of the high-profile events to take place in Qatar this year.
The calendar also includes the amendment of the dates of Qatar Men’s International Tennis Federation Championship (October 12-18) and Qatar Classic Platinum Senior Squash Championship (November 1-7).
Qatar International Show Jumping Championship will be held from November 14-16 before the Al Rayyan International Show Jumping Championship which will take place 12 days later.
Among the local events, the fans will get the opportunity to witness the Qatar Cup volleyball final (September 30), Qatar Cup basketball Final (October 13), Qatar Cup handball final (October 14), Amir Cup volleyball final (October 16), Amir Cup handball final (October 20), Amir Cup basketball final (October 28) and the Amir Cup football final on November 1.
After three rounds of QSL action which took place in empty stands, the Qatar Stars League allowed a limited number of fans to the stadiums from penultimate round while adhering to precautionary measures recommended by the Ministry of Public Health as authorities did their best to control the spread of virus.
That smooth transition was definitely of sigh of relief for the fans as they prepare to clear up their schedules to fill up the stands when the action returns, thinking that the wait was worth it.
