logo
Sheikh Khaled Al-Badr attends the inauguration of the Gulf Beach Games

Sheikh Khaled Al-Badr attends the inauguration of the Gulf Beach Games

Arab Times05-04-2025
KUWAIT CITY, April 5, (Agencies): The Chair of the Kuwaiti and Asian Aquatics Federations, Sheikh Khaled Al-Badr Al-Sabah, attended the opening ceremony of the 3rd Gulf Beach Games, which was held in Muscat on Saturday, April 5.
According to a press release, Sheikh Khaled, before his departure, stated that the Gulf Beach Games is a distinguished sporting event and one of the most prominent competitions to be held in the Gulf countries in 2025.
He expressed his full confidence in the capabilities and expertise of the sports institutions in the sisterly Sultanate of Oman to successfully organize this event.
Sheikh Khaled highlighted that such events play a vital role in enhancing integration, facilitating the exchange of experiences, and elevating the technical and physical standards of athletes in the GCC countries.
He stressed that the Omani Federation is one of the main pillars of Gulf Aquatics and is always striving to exchange expertise and continuously develop the aquatics system.
Sheikh Khaled praised the tremendous efforts exerted by the relevant authorities in the Sultanate of Oman to provide all necessary facilities for the success of the Beach Games competition. This event, which brings together members of the GCC countries, will include eight sports and heritage events that will be held in a spirit of friendly competition.
He affirmed the strong cooperation between the Asian Federation and the national federations of the member states to promote and elevate water sports throughout Asia so that Asia will remain a symbol of excellence in the Olympic Games and a global benchmark in the world of sports.
Meanwhile, 65 athletes from Kuwait are competing across six sports: beach soccer, beach volleyball, sailing, paragliding, athletics, and tent pegging.
The Kuwaiti air sports team kicked off its participation with paragliding competitions at Al-Jissah Beach, where they will compete in six rounds over the next two days. The team includes talented athletes Ibrahim Al-Rashoud, Ahmad Al-Madhi, Mohammad Al-Dousari, and Talal Al-Mutawa.
The event aims to foster stronger sports cooperation among Gulf countries. Kuwaiti athletes are eager to achieve top results and proudly represent their country, hoping to raise the Kuwaiti flag on the podium.
The Oman Olympic Committee has made extensive preparations for the games, ensuring a smooth event as the GCC countries, including Kuwait, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, and Qatar, come together to compete in a variety of beach sports.
Founded in the early 1980s, the GCC has worked towards closer regional integration, not only in sports but across many sectors, and continues to unite the Gulf nations in sporting events like this one.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Saudi Arabia aims for a deep run in FIBA Asia Cup on home soil; China looks to bounce back
Saudi Arabia aims for a deep run in FIBA Asia Cup on home soil; China looks to bounce back

Arab Times

time4 hours ago

  • Arab Times

Saudi Arabia aims for a deep run in FIBA Asia Cup on home soil; China looks to bounce back

BEIJING, Aug 4 (Xinhua): With new faces in the lineup, China's men's basketball team hopes to rebound from recent below-par performances in international competitions at the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup. The most decorated team in the tournament's history, with 16 titles, most recently in 2015 on home soil, China has fallen short in the past two editions, exiting at the quarterfinal stage both times. Drawn in Group C, China will face host Saudi Arabia, India, and Jordan - the group's main threat. The meeting with Jordan recalls the 2011 Asia Cup final, when China edged the visitors 70-69 at home."The rematch is a long time coming, but the memory still stings," read a preview on the FIBA website. Saudi Arabia will look to its home-court advantage to spring an upset. Under the format, the top team in each group advances directly to the quarterfinals, while the second- and third-placed teams play for the remaining spots. Given the group dynamics, China will target the Jordan match to secure first place and a better knockout position. That could set up a potential quarterfinal against Lebanon, which eliminated China at the same stage in 2022. Adding to the struggles were 24th- and 29th-place finishes out of 32 teams at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2019 and 2023, respectively, along with missing the past two Olympic Games. After what appeared to be a low point, the team is aiming for redemption at the continental tournament in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from Aug. 5 to 17. Under head coach Guo Shiqiang, appointed in July last year, China has embarked on a rebuilding phase with its sights set on the 2027 World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. In the 14-man roster for Jeddah, newcomer Wang Junjie, who plays for the University of San Francisco in NCAA Division I, has drawn attention for his athleticism and explosiveness. Selected for the training camp in April, Wang earned his spot with strong warm-up performances. The 20-year-old forward averaged 8.3 points and 2.5 rebounds as China won twice each against Venezuela and Bosnia and Herzegovina ahead of its departure. Speaking about his international debut, Wang said, "I felt nervous before the game, and even almost burst into tears when singing the national anthem. Fortunately, I turned my nervousness into motivation." With Zeng Fanbo still recovering from injury, Wang is seen as a boost on the forward line. The Chinese Basketball Association has allowed Yang Hansen, drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in 2025, to skip the Asia Cup to focus on his development. Zhou Qi also withdrew due to a recurring waist injury. That leaves China's inside game to rely heavily on Hu Jinqiu, MVP of the 2024-25 CBA regular season. Bound for his second Asia Cup after debuting in 2017, Hu helped lead the Zhejiang Lions to their first CBA championship last season. He averaged a team-high 11.5 points in four recent warm-up games. "He'd be taking on an even more significant duty, manning the fort for the continental contest's most successful team," read an article about Hu on the FIBA website. "There should be no doubt that he's more than ready to do so." Hu will partner with Yu Jiahao, who recently signed with Spanish club Bilbao Basket and will join them after the Asia Cup. At 7-foot-3, Yu is the tallest player on the squad and led China with 6.3 rebounds per game in warm-ups. Veteran guards Hu Mingxuan and Zhao Rui will lead the backcourt, with Liao Sanning and Cheng Shuaipeng expected to contribute. With no dominant edge in the paint, rebounding and 3-point shooting will be key to China's chances. Looking ahead, Guo said, "We will go all out in every game for the best result as we can."Two-time defending champion Australia remains the favorite in Jeddah. Ranked seventh in the world, the Boomers boast balance, experience, and size, and top the tournament's power rankings. Japan's fast-paced game and New Zealand's toughness also make them strong medal contenders.

Dawri Zain's refreshed brand identity unveiled
Dawri Zain's refreshed brand identity unveiled

Kuwait Times

timea day ago

  • Kuwait Times

Dawri Zain's refreshed brand identity unveiled

Inspired by the iconic Khaleeji Zain 26 logo that captivated fans across the region KUWAIT: Zain Kuwait, the strategic partner of the Kuwait Football Association (KFA), unveiled the refreshed visual identity of the Zain Premier League (Dawri Zain) during the official draw ceremony for the 2025–2026 season. The event was held in the presence of KFA President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah, Corporate Relations Department Manager at Zain Kuwait Hamad Al-Musaibeeh, as well as representatives from the KFA, football clubs and the local sports media. The ceremony featured the official reveal of the new league logo, which Zain redesigned to reflect the spirit of Kuwait and its cultural heritage. The logo draws inspiration from the iconic visual identity of the Khaleeji Zain 26 tournament, which Kuwait hosted to great success under Zain's sponsorship at the end of last year. The design incorporates symbolic elements from Kuwait's environment and culture, including desert dunes, the Kuwaiti boom (sailing ship), the camel, the Arabic letter 'Alif' to represent the Arabic language, and the traditional 'iqal' headband, all creatively combined into the shape of the league's emblem. The blue color palette was chosen to reflect the 'Kuwait Blue', enhancing the local and national identity of the league. The refreshed visual identity of Dawri Zain. From the new season's draw event. Zain affirmed that this brand refresh is part of its extended strategic partnership with the Kuwait Football Association. The agreement includes official sponsorship of the Zain Premier League (Dawri Zain), First Division League, HH the Amir's Cup and HH the Crown Prince's Cup. Recently, Zain also celebrated the crowning of Kuwait SC as champions of Dawri Zain for the 20th time in its history. The season witnessed intense competition and remarkable performances by players and clubs, drawing large crowds of enthusiastic fans. In addition, the company recently honored the top players of the 2024–2025 season at its annual Excellence Awards ceremony, which gathered prominent figures from Kuwait's sports scene, media and athletics community. Zain believes in the importance of enriching the local sports landscape and sees its support for the league and national tournaments as a key pillar of its corporate sustainability strategy, which focuses on empowering young Kuwaitis and encouraging them to excel, especially in the field of sports.

Dawri Zain's refreshed brand identity unveiled
Dawri Zain's refreshed brand identity unveiled

Arab Times

time2 days ago

  • Arab Times

Dawri Zain's refreshed brand identity unveiled

KUWAIT CITY, Aug 2: Zain Kuwait, the strategic partner of the Kuwait Football Association (KFA), unveiled the refreshed visual identity of the Zain Premier League (Dawri Zain) during the official draw ceremony for the 2025–2026 season. The event was held in the presence of KFA President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah, Corporate Relations Department Manager at Zain Kuwait, Hamad Al-Musaibeeh, as well as representatives from the KFA, football clubs, and the local sports ceremony featured the official reveal of the new league logo, which Zain redesigned to reflect the spirit of Kuwait and its cultural heritage. The logo draws inspiration from the iconic visual identity of the Khaleeji Zain 26 tournament, which Kuwait hosted to great success under Zain's sponsorship at the end of last year. The design incorporates symbolic elements from Kuwait's environment and culture, including desert dunes, the Kuwaiti boom (sailing ship), the camel, the Arabic letter "Alif" to represent the Arabic language, and the traditional "iqal" headband, all creatively combined into the shape of the league's emblem. The blue color palette was chosen to reflect the 'Kuwait Blue', enhancing the local and national identity of the league. Zain affirmed that this brand refresh is part of its extended strategic partnership with the Kuwait Football Association for the 2022–2026 seasons. The agreement includes official sponsorship of the Zain Premier League (Dawri Zain), First Division League, HH the Amir's Cup, and HH the Crown Prince's Cup. Recently, Zain also celebrated the crowning of Kuwait SC as champions of Dawri Zain for the 20th time in its history. The season witnessed intense competition and remarkable performances by players and clubs, drawing large crowds of enthusiastic fans. In addition, the company recently honored the top players of the 2024–2025 season at its annual Excellence Awards ceremony, which gathered prominent figures from Kuwait's sports scene, media, and athletics community. Zain believes in the importance of enriching the local sports landscape and sees its support for the league and national tournaments as a key pillar of its corporate sustainability strategy, which focuses on empowering young Kuwaitis and encouraging them to excel, especially in the field of sports.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store