Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Inaugurates 2023 World Judo Championships

Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani

HE President of the Qatar Olympic Committee Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani inaugurated on Monday the World Judo Championships 2023, hosted by Doha at the Ali bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena and lasts till May 14, 2023.

President of the International Judo Federation Marius Vizer, a number of Their Excellencies, Asian and international sports and Olympic leaders, along with a number of the Qatari and international officials of the Judo Federations attended the opening ceremony.

HE President of the Qatar Olympic Committee Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani crowned the winners of the women's under 52 kg category.

His Excellency crowned the Japanese Uta Abe with the gold medal, the Uzbek Diyora Keldiyorova with the silver medal, and the French Amandine Buchard and the Italian Odette Guiffrida with the bronze medals.

HE Second-Vice President of Qatar Olympic Committee Dr. Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari crowned the winners of the men's under 66 kg category. His Excellency crowned the Japanese Hifumi Abe with the gold medal, the Japanese Joshiro Maruyama with the silver medal, and the French Walide Khyar and the Mongolian Yondonperenlein Baskhuu with the bronze medals.

The opening ceremony began with a welcoming speech by Director of the Local Organizing Committee of the World Judo Championships - Doha 2023 Khalid bin Hamad Al Attiyah.

Al Attiyah said that he was pleased to welcome everyone at the opening ceremony of the World Judo Championships - Doha 2023. He expressed Qatar's pride in hosting the World Judo Championships for the first time in Doha, consolidating Qatar's position as a host country that has succeeded in attracting the biggest sporting events in the world. He expressed his gratitude to HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani as under His Highness's leadership, vision, and directives, Qatar has seen unprecedented growth and development in shaping the sports scene and infrastructure that made Qatar home to world-class sporting infrastructure.

At the end of his speech, Al Attiyah said that he would like to thank everyone who contributed to making this event possible, from volunteers, sponsors, and the audience, wishing all the judokas the best of luck and hoping that everyone would enjoy the World Judo Championships - Doha 2023.

For his part, HE Secretary-General of Qatar Olympic Committee Jassim Rashid Al Buainain welcomed the championship's guests, saying that Qatar is pleased to host the World Judo Championships and welcomes everyone in Doha, the capital of sports. He added that as the world knows it, the State of Qatar has raised the slogan of leadership and excellence in organizing sporting events, in addition to preserving its values and heritage and highlighting them in such forums.

For his part, President of the International Judo Federation Marius Vizer praised hosting the 2023 World Judo Championships in Doha, expressing his thanks to the State of Qatar for its support of the championship.

Vizer said that today they are in the country of sports, culture, and technology; the country that became a destination for organizing international sporting championships; the country that represents the values of unity and friendship between countries.

He expressed his thanks to the State of Qatar for its support of sports in general and of the World Judo Championships in particular, hoping that Qatar would continue on that path and be the best organizer for the Olympic Games in the future because it deserves that.

In his speech, Vizer noted the role of sports in consolidating the relationships among peoples and nations, saying that sports are the best way to link and consolidate the bonds between peoples. In the meantime, the world is facing a critical stage in international relationships because of what is happening in various regions, therefore, we should maintain the independence of sports to be an inspiration to world leaders to maintain peace, understanding, and cooperation among world peoples.

(QNA)