Residents encouraged to support Qatar at AFC U23 Championships
The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) has extended their best wishes to the U23 football team ahead of their participation in the AFC U23 Championships, which began in Doha on the 12th of January.
The competition also provides an opportunity for a Qatari football team to qualify for the Olympic Games for the first time in 24 years.
Speaking on behalf of the QOC, President Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, said, “This is a very talented young team and we look forward to following their progress throughout the tournament.”
He further added, “2016 is a milestone year for Olympic sport in Qatar and we encourage the whole nation to get behind the team as they compete to qualify for Rio 2016. “
The AFC U23 Championships will take place in Doha from 12th-30th January and involves 16 teams from the AFC’s Member Associations.
Qatar is in Group A and played China in its first match yesterday. It will play Iran on 15th January and Syria on 18th January. The top two teams from each group will progress to the quarterfinals, which take place on 22nd and 23rd January.
It is the first time that the AFC U23 Championship will also serve as a qualifier for the Olympic Games, which take place in Rio de Janeiro from 5th-21st August 2016, with the tournament’s top three teams qualifying.
In order to allow teams from around the world to compete equally, members of Olympic teams must be under 23 years old, with the exception of three over-23 players allowed per squad.
Several of Qatar’s current U23 squad were members of the historic team that won the 2014 AFC U19 Championships.
These include Ahmed Moein, the tournament’s MVP and AFC Young Player of the Year in 2014, and Akram Afif, scorer of four goals in the tournament, including the winner in the final against DPR Korea.
Several Qatari teams and athletes have already qualified for Rio 2016, including the Equestrian team, Men’s Handball team, who were silver medallists at last year’s World Championships, and members of the athletics team, including 2014 World Indoor Champion and 2012 Olympic bronze medallist, Mutaz Barshim and World Junior Champion, Ashraf Elseify.
You can follow the progress of Team Qatar on their journeys to Rio 2016 on the QOC’s social media.
We are behind you & will remain so ..................... Thu, 14.01.2016, 07.15 hrs ....
Then you have to communicate with the Sponsors/employers to reduce the working hours during this period.
i will support Jordan Team,