Team Qatar golfers and QGA officials pose for a group photo.
Doha, Qatar: Top ranked golfers of the region are ready to brave strong winds as the GCC Golf Championship 2024 – Qatar tees off at the Doha Golf Club (DGC) today.
The championship barring Kuwait involves all the GCC countries including hosts Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman, who will vie for individual and team titles in youth and adult (national) categories.
A simple but impressive ceremony marked the opening of the regional tournament with the Qatar Golf Association President Hassan Nasser Al Naimi welcoming the visiting delegations during his speech at DGC yesterday. The opening ceremony was also attended by the participating contingents and top golf officials of region.
A total of 31 golfers will be seen in action throughout the championship that includes three days of youth contest while the adult event will last for four days.
Participating teams during the opening ceremony of GCC Golf Championship 2024 - Qatar at Doha Golf Club yesterday.
Qatar bagged back-to-back team titles in the UAE and Bahrain as the hosts look to seal third victory in a row in the home event. Qatar’s Saleh Al Kaabi has been the standout performer in the tournament, having also won the individual gold medals in the last two editions.
The 29-year-old is looking to help Qatar claim another title and during the course complete his individual golden hat-trick.
“The level of competition is rising every year and I am expecting a tough competition from my opponents. Completing a hat-trick of team and individual titles in this edition would be great and it will give me great confidence for the competitions ahead,” Al Kaabi said on the sidelines of the opening ceremony.
The forecast of strong winds during the event threatens to provide the participants with an extra challenge but Al Kaabi was confident of a good show.
“The conditions are challenging but we are used to play in strong winds so I am hopeful of getting good results in this championship,” said Al Kaabi, who will be accompanied by Ali Abdullah Al Shahrani, Abdul Rahman Abdullah Al Shahrani and Abdulaziz Almuhanedi in the national squad.
Action starts at 8am today with 11 golfers taking part in the junior event followed by the national team contest that will see 20 players in action.
