FIFA expert addresses Qatar referees on managing pressure

Doha: Dr. Jessica Miranda, Head of Psychology at FIFA, addressed Qatar’s elite referees on managing stress and maintaining focus during matches at the Qatar Football Association’s (QFA) pre-season training camp at the InterContinental Hotel Doha on Wednesday.

Dr. Miranda explained how the body and mind respond to competitive pressure and outlined methods to manage stress, improve concentration, support recovery and enhance decision-making during matches. newssport.cv

She also highlighted the importance of balancing psychological, physiological and physical factors to achieve peak performance and remain focused in high-pressure situations.

Dr. Miranda, who describes Qatar as her second home has previously worked at Aspire Academy for five years, a period she considers a significant professional experience.

Her participation in the Qatari elite referees' camp stems from her extensive experience in international referee training.

She has previously overseen the physiological aspects of referees for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, as well as those for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, and will also be involved with referees for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar U-18 National Basketball Team delegatio arrived in Ahmedabad, India yesterday to participate in the FIBA U-18 Asian Championship, hosted by India from August 13 to 23, with the participation of elite youth teams from across the continent.

The delegation is headed by Qatar Basketball Federation Secretary General and Director of National Teams Saadoun Sabah Al-Kuwari.

Qatar earned their place in the continental competition after finishing second in the Gulf U-18 qualifiers held in Doha, securing a direct berth to the Asian finals.

Qatar have been drawn into Group C alongside China, Iran, and Sri Lanka. The team will open their campaign against Iran on August 14, face China in the second round on August 16, and conclude the group stage against Sri Lanka on August 18.

The team is led by Algerian head coach Mounir Ben Ghalla, assisted by Hashim Zaidan, with Kenan overseeing physical conditioning and Saif Al-Hamandi supervising medical and rehabilitation duties.

The Qatar squad includes 12 players: Abdullah Yassin, Tamim Ashraf Abu Issa, Ziad Al-Bitar, Muath Omar Mousa, Azzam Mohammed Yaken, Ziad Tamer Al-Johari, Mohammed Saeed Badri, Mahmoud Tamer Ibrahim, Amer Ibrahim Mousa, Owen Ikina, Youssef Waleed Abdelqader, and Shahi Mohammed.

This participation carries significant importance for Qatar, as the team aims to achieve positive results in the continental championship, which also serves as a qualifying pathway to the FIBA U-19 Basketball World Cup 2027 in the Czech Republic.

The top four teams from the Asian Championship will secure qualification spots.

أعربت الموهبة القطرية الصاعدة تميم محمد الدوسري عن امتنانه لصحيفة «العرب» لتسليطها الضوء على تجربته داخل أكاديمية برشلونة، مؤكدًا تطلعه إلى مواصلة التطور والعمل من أجل أن يصبح أحد نجوم المستقبل في كرة القدم.

وحظي انفراد «العرب» حول تجربة تميم بتفاعل واسع عبر منصة «إنستغرام»، بعدما سلط الضوء على موهبة قطرية واعدة تخوض تجربة مبكرة داخل إحدى أبرز الأكاديميات الكروية عالميًا.

وتميم، المولود في 14 ديسمبر 2018، تدرج في الفئات السنية بنادي السد، ويشغل مركز وسط الميدان، حيث لفتت إمكاناته الفنية ومهاراته الكروية أنظار كشافي أكاديمية برشلونة خلال متابعتهم لتدريبات الفئات السنية.

وتفاعل تميم مع انفراد «العرب» عبر حسابه في «إنستغرام»، حيث أعاد نشر الخبر ووجّه رسالة شكر للصحيفة، قائلاً: «شكراً جزيلاً.. أنا أقدر ذلك»، في تعبير عن تقديره للاهتمام الإعلامي بتجربته.

وشهد الخبر تفاعلاً لافتًا من المتابعين، الذين أشادوا بموهبة تميم، وقدموا له رسائل الدعم والتشجيع، مع التأكيد على أهمية توفير البيئة المناسبة التي تساعده على الاستفادة من تجربته وتطوير قدراته.

ووصف عدد من المتداخلين اللاعب بأنه «مشروع نجم مستقبلي»، معربين عن أملهم في مواصلة خطواته بثبات، وأن يصبح مستقبلاً أحد الأسماء البارزة في الكرة القطرية.

ويعكس التفاعل الكبير مع انفراد «العرب» الاهتمام بالمواهب القطرية الشابة، فيما يواصل تميم تجربته المبكرة في برشلونة، واضعًا نصب عينيه تطوير موهبته وتحقيق طموحاته الكروية.

Doha: Qatar’s U-18 national basketball team will begin their campaign at the FIBA Asia Championship when they face Iran at 11:00 am Doha time today, at the Veer Savarkar Indoor Hall in Ahmedabad, India.

The match marks the opening fixture of Group C in the continental tournament, which runs from August 13 to 23 with the participation of 16 teams.

In the other Group C clash, China will meet Sri Lanka today, setting the stage from the very first round for the battle over the two quarterfinal qualification spots.

Qatar’s encounter with Iran carries added significance, as both teams enter the competition with different ambitions but share the same goal of securing a strong start to gain early advantage in a group that also includes China and Sri Lanka.

Following the opener against Iran, Qatar will face China on August 16 and conclude their group stage campaign against Sri Lanka on August 18.

Group stage matches run from August 13 to 18. The top team from each group advances directly to the quarterfinals, while the second- and third-placed teams contest playoff qualifiers on August 20. Quarterfinals will be held on August 21, semifinals on August 22, and the championship final on August 23.