Doha:The 45th edition of the Arab Men's and Women's Golf Championship commenced on Friday in Doha, featuring 72 players from 14 countries. The event, organized by the Qatar Golf Association, will see official competition from Saturday to next Tuesday.
According to Qatar News Agency, the opening ceremony was attended by Arab Golf Federation Vice President Adel Al Fayyad, Qatar Golf Association President Hamad Abdullah Al Mannai, and the Association's Secretary-General Fahad Al Nuaimi, alongside heads of participating federations and delegations.
The ceremony included a parade of participating teams, emphasizing the camaraderie among the Arab delegations. Speeches from representatives of the Arab and Qatar golf federations highlighted the championship's significance on the Arab golf calendar, its role in strengthening ties among federations, and its contribution to raising playing standards and broadening participation in the sport across the region.
Al Nuaimi welcomed the delegations, expressing Qatar's pride in hosting the championship for the first time and wishing them success in their performances. He noted the championship's inaugural edition was held in Lebanon in 1975 and had since become a key platform for leading Arab golfers.
Al Fayyad described the championship as an important regional competition featuring some of the best Arab golfers, fostering closer ties among young people in the Arab world. He praised Qatar's hosting capabilities, including its resources, infrastructure, and organizational expertise.
The opening ceremony concluded with Al Mannai declaring the championship open, wishing all participants strong competition and outstanding results. The men's competition includes 51 players from 14 countries, while the women's event features 21 players from nine countries, competing for individual and team titles. The Qatar national team has prepared with training sessions at Doha Golf Club, aiming for strong performances and positive results.