Participation in Tokyo Olympics best in history of Qatari sports: Sheikh Joaan

Tribune News Network Doha HH Personal Representative of HH the Amir, Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, led well-wishers to welcome Team Qatar Olympic missi...

Tribune News NetworkDohaHH Personal Representative of HH the Amir, Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, led well-wishers to welcome Team Qatar Olympic mission (Al Adaam) which won two gold medals, in high jump and weightlifting, besides a bronze medal in beach volleyball at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, headed by HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President, Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC).The Qatar Olympic delegation arrived to a rousing welcome at the Hamad International Airport in Doha on Saturday evening. HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani termed Qatar’s participation at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in Japan as the best in the history of Qatari sports.Sheikh Jassim congratulated Qatar’s champions on the great accomplishment, praising the outstanding performances and high sportsmanship of the champions at the Olympics wishing them the best of luck in the coming international tournaments.Sheikh Joaan said that the current participation witnessed for the first time the achievement of three medals, including two gold medals for weightlifter Fares Ibrahim in weightlifting (96 kg) and champion Mutaz Barshim in the high jump competition. In addition, Qatari beach volleyball team won the bronze medal, which is the first medal for Arabs in a team sport.Sheikh Joaan noted this outcome of the medals is very satisfactory, especially as it placed Qatar in the first place at the level of the Arab countries participating at “Tokyo Olympics 2020”. He stressed that the distinguished results achieved have been due to the unlimited support the sports sector enjoys from His Highness the Amir of State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the great work done by the sports federations.Sheikh Joaan thanked and appreciated all athletes of Team Qatar for their great efforts to honour Qatari sports at the largest sports forum in the world, wishing them success in future participations.Qatar Olympic Committee Secretary-General HE Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain, said, “I am very proud to see how people in Qatar feel. We really appreciate this warm reception for Team Qatar. We are looking at this performance as the foundation for our next events.”An elated Barshim, who added Olympic gold to his earlier silver medals and world titles, said: “I feel great, I am happy. It’s a moment of glory and I want to thank all these people who have come here to support us. The job is done, it’s been the greatest ever. It’s a feeling I cannot describe in words. It’s a moment in life and I just want to take my time to enjoy this moment.”Weightlifter Fares was ecstatic too. He said, “I am feeling great and I am feeling wonderful to be back home with a gold medal. Hopefully, in the next competitions we can represent Qatar very well.The Qatar Volleyball Association President Ali Al Kuwari was delighted on the beach volleyball team of Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan’s bronze medal win. “We are very happy. We tried our best to get the gold. This is our first Olympic medal for volleyball and it is great. We have young players, and we will have more to celebrate at the next Olympics in Paris (2024),” he said.“We’re so proud with the performance of the whole national team. They did a great job and they have to be proud of themselves. We promise more accolades in future events like Asian Games and Paris 2024. For now, it is time to celebrate,” Al Kuwari added.