Qatar handed tough draw at FIVB Boys’ U17 World Championship

Doha, Qatar: Qatar have been drawn alongside Tunisia, France and Venezuela in Pool A of the 2026 FIVB Volleyball Boys’ U17 World Championship, which will be hosted in Doha from August 19 to 29.

The tournament will bring together 20 teams from around the world, divided into five pools. Pool B features Italy, Cuba, India and Romania, while Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Poland make up Pool C. sport-ipl.my

Pool D consists of Spain, Egypt, Bulgaria and Türkiye, while Pool E includes Iran, Chinese Taipei, Pakistan and Algeria.

Each team will play three matches in the preliminary round, with the top 16 teams in the overall standings advancing to the Round of 16. The competition will then continue through the knockout stages leading to the semifinals, third-place playoff and final.

Matches will be staged at Aspire Sports Hall and Al Arabi Sports Club Hall, as Doha prepares to welcome some of the world’s most promising young volleyball players for the global championship.

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Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Stars League (QSL) held its technical meeting for the first leg of the 2026-2027 League at The Torch Hotel yesterday, bringing together QSL officials and representatives of the participating clubs.

The meeting reviewed key organizational and administrative procedures ahead of the new season, including matchday operations, stadium arrival times, accreditation, official stadium areas and player roster submissions.

Officials also discussed team kits, including home and reserve sets, and stressed the need for clubs and match officials to follow established procedures to ensure smooth matchday operations.

QSL Director of Competitions Ahmed Salman Al Adsani called for continued co-operation and co-ordination among the league, clubs and all stakeholders.

For his part, the representative of Referees Department stressed the importance of co-operating with the refereeing teams and adhering to their decisions during matches.

This contributes to creating a suitable environment for managing matches and promoting discipline on the field.

The meeting formed part of QSL’s preparations to ensure an organized start to the 2026-2027 Doha Bank Stars League season.

Taiyuan: England's Mark Selby defeated Thailand's Noppon Saengkham 10-6 to claim the title of the 2026 World Snooker Tour China Open here on Sunday.

After the first session in which two players were deadlocked at 4-4, Selby pulled ahead 8-4 in the second.

Mark Selby competes during the final match between Mark Selby of England and Noppon Saengkham of Thailand at China Open 2026 snooker tournament in Taiyuan, north China's Shanxi Province, Aug. 16, 2026. (Xinhua/Cao Yang)

Saengkham pulled one frame back, but Selby staged a dramatic comeback to move 9-5 ahead. Saengkham then fought back again to cut the deficit to 9-6.

In the 16th frame, Selby regained his form with precise shot-making and eventually sealed a 10-6 victory to win the match and secure the title.

"Today's match was very important to my career. I also learned a lot from the experience. I will continue to work hard in training and hope to become a champion in the future," Saengkham said after the match.

"I am very happy to win this title in China. It was a tough match, and I haven't played amazing shots in the final, but I think I performed well throughout the tournament," Selby said.