Qatar Cup semis: Al Sadd target final with Al Gharafa win; Al Rayyan …

Doha, Qatar: Defending champions Al Sadd will begin their Qatar Cup title defence against Al Gharafa today as the four-team tournament gets underway with the semi-finals.

Al Sadd face Al Gharafa at Khalifa International Stadium at 5pm, while Al Rayyan take on Al Shamal at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium at 7.30pm. tbzikra.org

The Qatar Cup is contested by the top four teams of the Qatar Stars League after each season, with the winners of today’s semi-finals advancing to the final scheduled for December 11 at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.

Al Sadd, who defeated Al Duhail in a penalty shootout to win last year’s title, are seeking their 10th Qatar Cup crown.

The Wolves have made an impressive start to the new QSL season, recording big wins over Al Ahli and Qatar SC in their opening two matches.

Al Gharafa players during a training session.

However, Al Gharafa will provide a familiar and difficult challenge after defeating Al Sadd to lift the Amir Cup title in May.

The Cheetahs are seeking their fourth Qatar Cup crown after opening their league campaign with a win over Al Shahania before losing to Al Shamal.

Al Sadd coach Razvan Lucescu said his side were focused on reaching the final.

“Our team is entering the match with one goal: to win and qualify for the final,” Lucescu said.

“This competition means a lot to us. Winning two matches gives us the chance to lift the Cup, which would be a culmination of the players’ efforts and a source of great joy for the club’s fans.”

Al Sadd coach Razvan Lucescu

Roberto Firmino expects another demanding contest against Al Gharafa, with the Brazilian insisting Al Sadd must carry their winning momentum into the Cup.

“The match against Al Gharafa in the Qatar Cup 2026 semifinal will be difficult and intense. We have the desire to continue our winning streak and take another step closer to winning the title,” Firmino said.

“Any match against Al Gharafa is like a final and this particular match requires us to fight and struggle from beginning to end in order to achieve victory.”

Al Gharafa coach Pedro Martins said his players were determined to seize their opportunity in a tournament featuring only four teams.

“We are eager to give off our best against Al Sadd. Our objective is to secure a victory and reach the final,” Martins said.

RIGHT: Al Gharafa coach Pedro Martins

“We are well aware of Al Sadd’s strengths, but Al Gharafa are always among the favorites to compete. We have the experience and the ambition, and everyone will do their utmost to achieve victory.”

Amro Suraj also underlined the different nature of knockout football, saying mistakes could prove costly in the battle for a place in the final.

“Cup matches are always different and do not allow for many mistakes. Perhaps Al Sadd are considered as favourites after winning their first two league matches, but we will fight hard for our chances,” he said.

Al Rayyan, Al Shamal set for thriller

The second semi-final will see Al Rayyan chase their fifth Qatar Cup crown against an Al Shamal side seeking their maiden title in the tournament.

Al Rayyan have enjoyed a perfect start to the season with back-to-back wins over Lusail and Al Wakrah, while Al Shamal drew with Al Arabi before beating Al Gharafa in their second QSL match.

Al Rayyan coach Vicente Moreno said reaching the final would be an important objective early in the season.

Al Rayyan coach Vicente Moreno

“This match is very important for us because it represents an opportunity to reach our first final this season and therefore we must give our all to win,” Moreno said.

“We know we are facing a strong opponent, but I have great confidence in the players.”

Al Shamal coach David Prats said his team were highly motivated to continue their progress.

“This is a very important match for us and we hope to be ready and perform at our usual level. We want to continue developing as a club and achieve victory,” Prats said.

Al Shamal coach David Prats

“The team has undergone several player changes recently. Work is ongoing to maintain the same mentality and ambition the team displayed last season.”

If either semi-final ends in a draw after regulation time, the winners will be decided directly by penalty kicks.

New York, USA: Venus Williams tumbled out of the US Open first round early Monday, the veteran US tennis icon losing in straight sets to compatriot Sofia Kenin.

The 46-year-old Williams -- handed a wild card into the singles in New York some 29 years after reaching the final at Flushing Meadows as a teenager in 1997 -- exited 6-2, 7-6 (8/6).

Williams, though, left with her head held high after a battling performance on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court that finished at just after 2am local time.

Kenin appeared to be cruising to a straightforward win after racing through the opening set and then taking a 4-2 lead in the second.

The 27-year-old American had a break point for what would have been a 5-2 lead but was then rocked by a ferocious fightback from Williams, who recovered to force a tie-break to the delight of the late-night crowd.

An improbable comeback appeared to be beckoning when Williams sprinted into a 6-2 lead in the tie-break, but Kenin regrouped impressively to rattle off six straight points to clinch victory.

Williams and Kenin's match got under way just after midnight local time following Novak Djokovic's marathon five-set loss earlier in the night session.

Williams, who saluted fans as she left the court, has given no indication of when she plans to call time on her singles career.

Her last victory in a Grand Slam singles game came at Wimbledon in 2021, where she reached the second round. Since then Williams has made six Grand Slam singles appearances and exited in the first round on each occasion.

She will extend her US Open campaign when she plays in the women's doubles alongside sister Serena later in the tournament.

Doha, Qatar: Qatar suffered a heavy 123-70 defeat to Japan in the fourth window of the second stage of the FIBA Asia Qualifiers for the 2027 Basketball World Cup at Toyota Arena Tokyo yesterday.

Japan dominated the opening quarter 29-11 before Qatar produced a better second period, narrowly losing it 24-23. The hosts then pulled away with a 40-11 third-quarter surge and finished with a 30-25 advantage in the final quarter.

Rui Hachimura led Japan with 30 points, while Abdullah Musa was Qatar’s top scorer with 14. Mohamed Hashem grabbed eight rebounds for Qatar, while Abdulrahman Yahya had four assists.

The result left Japan on 14 points in Group F and Qatar on 12. Qatar, who are automatically qualified for the 2027 World Cup as hosts, are using the qualifiers as part of their preparations for the global event.

The delegation had travelled to Tokyo after an 83-57 defeat to China before facing Japan. Qatar will resume their campaign in the fifth window against South Korea in Doha on November 26, followed by Japan on November 29.

Doha, Qatar: Qatar clinched the U19 Asian Men’s Youth Handball Championship after defeating Bahrain 28-24 in the final in Amman, Jordan, yesterday.

Qatar dominated from the outset, taking a 16-10 lead into half-time before maintaining control in the second half to secure the continental title with a four-goal victory.

The triumph capped an unbeaten campaign for Qatar, who finished top of Group B with eight points after victories over Saudi Arabia (30-22), Kuwait (30-19), Iran (24-22) and Syria (42-29). Qatar then continued their impressive run in the knockout stage, thrashing hosts Jordan 33-13 in the quarter-finals before defeating South Korea 32-28 in the semi-finals to book their place in the title decider.

Bahrain reached the final after beating Iran 26-23 in the other semi-final.

Qatar’s continental triumph also secured their qualification for the 2027 IHF Men’s Junior World Championship in North Macedonia, where they will make their seventh appearance at the global tournament.