Qatar Olympic Committee President H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani presenting the Male Player of the Year Award to high jump world champion Mutaz Essa Barshim during the annual Sports Excellence Awards held in Doha yesterday. Pictures: Mohamed Farag
High jump world champion Mutaz Essa Barshim and shooter Aysha Yousef Al Suwaidi won the Male and Female Player of the year Awards respectively at the annual Sports Excellence Awards held in Doha yesterday.
A host of outstanding sportspersons, coaches, administrators, associations, referees and stakeholders were among the awardees at the gala ceremony, organised by the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) to recognise their contribution in the sports field.
The QOC President H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani presented the awards to the winners at the glittering ceremony.
Commenting on the occasion, the QOC President lauded the ‘untiring efforts of the athletes, administrators and the coaches for their memorable services to push the Olympic Movement in Qatar’.
H E Sheikh Joaan also highlighted QOC’s sports strategy for the coming years. He said the country’s sports strategy is aligned to support Qatar National Vision 2030.
The Secretary-General of QOC Jassim Al Buenain was also present at the ceremony.
Barshim who won the same award last year, thanked QOC and the Qatar Athletics Federation for helping him achieve dizzy heights in his career. The Qatari star also thanked his family, coach and the fans for supporting over the years.
Barshim’s coach Stanisław Szczyrba won the Coach of the Year Award.
Upcoming swimmer Tamim Al Hamayda bagged the Young Male Athlete of the Season award while Al Maha Meshal Al Ali won the Promising Female Athlete of the Season Award.
The Female Para-Athlete of the Season Award was won by Salma Dahi Hamad.
Khalid Al Marri was named the Administrator of the Year. The Female Administrator of the Year Award was won by Ahlam Farj Al Abdulrahman.
Qatar’s AFC Asian Cup winning football team won the Men’s Team of the Year Award while the national handball and basketball teams won the Male and Female Teams of the Year Awards respectively.
Khalid Al Hail and Ali Alyazidi were named Referees of the Year.
Camel Owner of the Year Award was won by Nasser Abdulla Al Mesnad while Jaber Salem Jaber bin Faran was named the Camel Trainer of the Year.
Qatari horse trainer Ibrahim Saeed Al Malki was also honoured while H H Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani won the Horse Owner of the Year Award.
Faleh Bu Ghneim was the Jockey of the Year.
Ministry of Interior was recognised for their support towards sport and was awarded Best Governmental Organisation in Supporting Olympic Movement.
Cultural Village Katara and Aspire Foundation were also honoured with the Best Organization in Supporting Sport and Organising Community Sport Programs Awards.
H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalid Al Thani received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
ANOC World Beach Games was named the Best Local Organising Committee while the LOC of IAAF World Athletics Championships 2019 was named the Best Organising Committee for hosting two magnificent global sports events in a highly successful manner.
