Osaka out to improve Toronto fortunes with eye on US Open

Toronto, Canada: Naomi Osaka is hoping her success last year in Montreal, where she finished runner-up to Victoria Mboko, will translate as the WTA's 1000 event in Canada shifts to Toronto.

The four-time Grand Slam champion from Japan is coming off a semi-final run on the hard courts of Washington, where she fell to eventual champion Alexandra Eala of the Philippines.

"I did better than last year in DC, so I'm just hoping to keep the ball rolling," Osaka said. macnevers-and-co.beer

"I haven't historically played super, super well here, so I'm just hoping to change that this year.

"I can try to recall Montreal, but I would like to kind of treat the cities separately," added Osaka, whose best run in Toronto -- which alternates hosting duties with Montreal each year -- was a quarter-final appearance back in 2019.

The former world number one is seeded 11th this year and aiming to build momentum as the August 31 start of the US Open approaches.

Osaka earned the last of her four major titles at the 2021 Australian Open and has yet to regain the heights she reached before taking an extended maternity leave in 2023.

But she made it to the US Open semi-finals last year and reached the last 16 at the French Open for the first time this year before a career-best quarter-final at Wimbledon.

"I would just hope to gain a lot of confidence leading into New York," she said.

"I lost my last match, but it's helped me figure out what I want to do exactly, or how I want to take my tennis."

Osaka is in the same quarter as second-seeded Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina and in the fourth round she could find herself up against fifth-seeded French Open champion Mirra Andreeva.

Andreeva, who suffered a shock second-round exit at Wimbledon, will face a tricky opening match against former world number one Karolina Pliskova, who beat Ukraine's Oleksandra Oliynykova 6-4, 6-4 on Monday.

Osaka will open against Hungary's Panna Uvardy, who was up 2-6, 7-6 (7/3), 2-0 against Eva Lys when the German retired because of injury in a match in which she led the second set 5-2.

It was a jam-packed schedule on the second day of first-round play.

Among the winners, Poland's Magdalena Frech defeated France's Leolia Jeanjean 7-5, 6-3 to line up a meeting with third-seeded two-time champion Jessica Pegula.

Pegula beat Frech last week on the way to the final in Washington, where the American fell to Eala in the rain-delayed title match on Monday.

In other early matches, American Kayla Day beat Diane Parry of France 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 to book a clash with fourth-seeded Coco Gauff.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka is the top seed in the tournament.

After disappointing runs at the French Open and Wimbledon the Belarusian is aiming to reassert her dominance on hard courts, where her lone defeat this year was to Rybakina in the Australian Open final.

قطر رشحت عبدالله الكواري.. والجمعية العمومية العربية منحته الثقة والتفويض

قوة الاتحاد لا تقاس بما ينتزعه من اختصاصات أعضائه وإنما بما يستمده من ثقتهم

دولية المشاركة لا تعني بالضرورة تمثيل الدول فالمنتخب الرسمي يختلف عن مشاركة المالك الفرد



أكد الدكتور حزام ناصر المقارح، الأمين العام للاتحاد العربي لرياضة سباقات الهجن «المهاري»، أن التعديلات التي أقرتها الجمعية العمومية بالإجماع تؤسس لمرحلة مؤسسية جديدة، تحمي استقلال الجهات الوطنية الأعضاء، وتحافظ على خصوصية سباقات الهجن القائمة على الملاك والمشاركات الفردية، وتفتح المجال أمام تطوير رياضات حديثة تمثل فيها الدول بمنتخباتها الرسمية.
وأوضح المقارح، في حوار مع «الأبرقة»، أن تجديد الثقة بسعادة السيد عبدالله بن محمد الكواري رئيسًا للاتحاد يعكس تقدير الأعضاء لنجاحه في قيادة المرحلة السابقة، كما يجسد المكانة الرائدة التي تتمتع بها دولة قطر في تنظيم الأنشطة الرياضية عمومًا وسباقات الهجن خصوصًا.
وتناول الحوار طبيعة سباقات الهجن، وحدود اختصاص الاتحاد، والتحكيم أمام محكمة «كاس»، ومستقبل كرة يد الهجانة التي احتضنت قطر نشأتها وتطوير نموذجها الرياضي، والطموح إلى استيفاء متطلبات إدراجها ضمن برنامج دورة الألعاب الآسيوية.

◆ كيف تنظرون إلى نتائج اجتماع الجمعية العمومية؟
¶ لم يقتصر الاجتماع على إجراء الانتخابات أو تغيير بعض المسميات، وإنما أعاد تنظيم العمل داخل الاتحاد على أسس أكثر وضوحًا، وحدد العلاقة بين الجمعية العمومية ومجلس الإدارة والرئيس والأمانة العامة والجهات الوطنية الأعضاء.
وقد أُعد مشروع التعديلات من الناحيتين القانونية والتنظيمية، ثم أُرسل إلى الأعضاء قبل الاجتماع، وأُتيح لهم إبداء ملاحظاتهم ومناقشتها.

◆ ماذا يمثل استمرار عبدالله بن محمد الكواري في الرئاسة ؟
¶ استمرارعبدالله بن الكواري لا يمثل مجرد تجديد لولاية إدارية، وإنما يعكس ثقة الجمعية العمومية في قيادته وتقديرها لما أنجزه خلال المرحلة السابقة.
فقد نجح في المحافظة على استمرارية الاتحاد واستقلال قراره، وإعادة ترتيب عدد من ملفاته المؤسسية، والدفع نحو تحديث نظامه الأساسي.

◆ وماذا يمثل انتخاب الشيخ سعيد الغفيلي نائبًا لرئيس الاتحاد عن قارة آسيا؟
¶ يمثل هذا الانتخاب إضافة مهمة إلى قيادة الاتحاد، فالشيخ سعيد الغفيلي يأتي من سلطنة عُمان، وهي من الدول ذات التجربة العريقة في سباقات الهجن.

◆ما الذي يميز سباقات الهجن عن الرياضات الأخرى؟
¶ الفرق لا يرجع إلى أن الرياضات الأخرى لا تعرف المشاركات الفردية، وإنما يكمن في الوحدة التنظيمية التي تقوم عليها المنافسة.
ففي كثير من البطولات الرياضية الرسمية، يصل اللاعب أو الفريق إلى المنافسة الدولية من خلال اتحاده الوطني، ويشارك باسم دولته ضمن منتخب أو وفد رسمي. أما سباقات الهجن في الخليج والوطن العربي فقد استقرت تاريخيًا على مشاركة الملاك والمضمرين والهجن المملوكة للأفراد أو المؤسسات الخاصة، مع تولي الدولة والجهة الوطنية مسؤولية التنظيم والدعم والمحافظة على هذا الموروث.

◆ كيف تجمعون بين حماية السباقات التقليدية وتطوير رياضات حديثة؟
¶ نحمي السباقات التقليدية من خلال احترام طبيعتها القائمة على الملاك والمضمرين والمشاركات الفردية، وفي الوقت نفسه نفتح مسارًا للرياضات الحديثة المرتبطة بالهجن، التي يمكن أن تقوم على الفرق والمنتخبات الوطنية.
ومن أبرز هذه الرياضات كرة يد الهجانة، التي احتضنت دولة قطر نشأتها وتطوير نموذجها الرياضي والتنظيمي.

◆ ما أولويات الاتحاد خلال المرحلة المقبلة؟
¶ الأولوية هي تحويل النظام المعدل من نصوص مكتوبة إلى ممارسة مؤسسية فعلية، من خلال توفيق اللوائح والقرارات القائمة معه، وتنظيم عمل مجلس الإدارة والأمانة العامة، واستكمال الملفات الإدارية والمالية والأرشيفية، وتعزيز التواصل مع الجهات الوطنية الأعضاء.

Rabat: President Gianni Infantino held emergency talks with other FIFA directors in Morocco on Wednesday, a source told AFP, amid a wave of criticism over his now shelved plan to open the World Cup to private investment.

Infantino has come under increasing pressure, even from within FIFA, over his handling of the proposal, and calls for him to step down have grown since he abandoned it last Saturday.

One of those believed to be at the meeting is FIFA's secretary-general Mattias Grafstrom, whose internal email to staff criticising the plan was leaked on Tuesday.

Infantino, a 56-year-old Swiss lawyer -- who is holding the meeting in FIFA's Africa regional office in Sale close to Rabat -- was in Morocco to celebrate last week's Feast of the Enthronement.

Morocco is to co-host the 2030 World Cup and Moroccan Football chief Fouzi Lekjaa is one of the few to have publicly supported Infantino since the humiliating climbdown.

Lekjaa last Saturday had praised his "wise" move to scrap the plan in the interests of "unity and cohesion".

He reiterated his backing for Infantino for "all the initiatives aimed at the development of world football" during his 10 years in charge.

Infantino had been basking in the warm afterglow of a highly successful World Cup -- the largest ever with 48 teams and co-hosted by three countries, Canada, Mexico and the US.

His wish to serve a fourth and final term looked likely to be rubber-stamped in Rabat next March -- no other candidate had come forward to challenge him.

However, Tuesday last week all that faded.

FIFA, world football's governing body, floated the plan, saying it could raise up to $4.2 billion based on a valuation of $20 billion for a new commercial subsidiary, called the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), which it proposed would run events such as the World Cup and Club World Cup.

It said that, if approved, the project could provide each of FIFA's 211 member associations with a one-off payment of $20 million in early 2027, and increase their funding allocation for the 2027-2030 cycle from $8 million to $20 million.

'Sad and reproachable'

Instead of acting as a sweetener it produced a furious backlash, with European football's governing body UEFA resorting on Thursday to the nuclear option of boycotting the sport's jewel in the crown, the World Cup.

By Saturday Infantino held his hands up and withdrew the plan.

"Our purpose has always been -- and will always be -- to unite and improve," said Infantino.

If he had hoped for that to be sufficient to shore up his authority he was to be swiftly disabused.

UEFA termed the proposal a "shabby, back room, opaque deal" hatched by Infantino.

"The current FIFA leadership has not only lost UEFA's confidence but also that of many other members of the football family," UEFA said in a statement.

North and Central American football's governing body CONCACAF went further still and called for "a comprehensive reckoning with this presidency" while slamming Infantino's "poor governance and leadership".

Grafstrom's leaked email only added fuel to the fire.

He described the fiasco surrounding the proposal as "a sad and reproachable series of events".

He added: "Individuals, unstable moments and unfortunate episodes come and go. The institution, its mission and its responsibility towards world football continue."

If you are setting up or upgrading a fitness space, gym flooring Qatar is one of the most important decisions you will make. The right floor protects your equipment, keeps members safe, and shapes how professional your facility feels the moment someone walks in. Yet many gym owners in Doha and across Qatar treat flooring as an afterthought, only to deal with cracked tiles, slippery surfaces, or noise complaints later.

الأخبارأنهوا اختبارات تحليل الأداء بحضور هاني بلان .. حكام النخبة يدشنون معسكر الإعداد للموسم الجديديدشن حكام النخبة بالاتحاد القطري لكرة القدم، اليوم الجمعة، معسكرهم الإعدادي للموسم الرياضي الجديد، والذي يقام بفندق إنتركونتيننتال الدوحة ويستمر حتى 18 أغسطس الجاري، ضمن البرنام...فتح →

Qatar’s fitness industry is growing fast, and with that growth comes higher expectations from members who train at hotels, CrossFit boxes, schools, and home gyms alike. Choosing rubber gym flooring Qatar facilities can rely on for years means understanding thickness, material, and installation requirements before you buy a single tile.

This guide breaks down everything you need to know to choose the best gym flooring for fitness centres Qatar has to offer, whether you are outfitting a commercial weight room or a single home gym corner.

Why Gym Flooring Matters More Than You Think

Flooring is not just a surface, it is a safety system. A poorly chosen floor can lead to injuries from slips, joint strain from hard impacts, or expensive damage to your subfloor when heavy plates are dropped repeatedly.

A well-chosen floor delivers:

• Shock absorption that protects joints during high-impact training
• Noise reduction, which matters in shared buildings, hotels, and apartment gyms
• Equipment protection from dropped weights and rolling machines
• A cleaner, more hygienic surface that is easy to disinfect
• A polished, professional look that builds member trust

Sports Village Qatar’s commercial flooring solutions are built around these exact priorities, combining durability with the sanitary standards modern gyms require.

Types of Gym Flooring Available in Qatar

Rubber Gym Flooring

Rubber remains the gold standard for rubber gym flooring Qatar gyms depend on, especially in weightlifting and strength zones. It is dense, shock-absorbent, and resistant to punctures from dumbbells, barbells, and plates.

Sports Village Qatar supplies two trusted rubber types, REMP and EPI, both fire-resistant, anti-static, and free of PVC and halogens. You can explore the full range on the rubber flooring product page, including rolled options like the rubber floor roll available in 1.25m x 10m sheets at 6mm thickness.

Gym Floor Tiles

Gym floor tiles Qatar facility owners often prefer interlocking square tiles, typically sized around one square meter. These are ideal for:

• Areas requiring quick installation or removal
• Spaces needing custom layouts around machines
• Facilities that may need to relocate flooring later

Interlocking Rubber Floor Tiles

Interlocking rubber floor tiles gym setups use snap-together edges that eliminate the need for adhesive in many cases. This makes them practical for temporary studios, pop-up fitness spaces, or sections of a gym that see frequent layout changes.

Turf and Specialty Surfaces

For functional training zones, sled pushes, or agility work, artificial turf flooring offers a different texture and aesthetic. Sports Village Qatar’s flooring catalogue includes both rubber and turf options so you can mix surfaces by training zone.

Gym Flooring Thickness Guide Qatar Gym Owners Should Follow

Thickness is not a cosmetic choice, it directly determines how much impact protection your floor provides. As a general gym flooring thickness guide Qatar buyers can use as a baseline:

• 6mm to 8mm: Suitable for cardio zones, group fitness rooms, and light free weight areas
• 10mm to 15mm: Recommended for general strength training with moderate weight drops
• 20mm and above: Best for rubber flooring for weightlifting gym spaces, Olympic lifting platforms, and CrossFit zones where heavy plates are dropped regularly

Thicker is not always better for every zone. Cardio areas with treadmills and bikes do not need the same shock absorption as a deadlift platform, so matching thickness to function saves money without compromising safety.

Shock Absorbent Gym Flooring Doha Facilities Need for Heavy Training

For any space where Olympic lifts, kettlebell drops, or plyometric training take place, shock absorbent gym flooring Doha gyms install is non-negotiable. Beyond protecting the concrete subfloor, shock-absorbent rubber reduces vibration transfer to neighboring units, which matters significantly for gyms located in mixed-use buildings, hotels, or residential towers common across Doha.

CrossFit Gym Flooring Qatar: Special Considerations

CrossFit gym flooring Qatar boxes require goes beyond typical commercial rubber. Functional training spaces deal with:

• Repeated heavy barbell drops
• Rope work and sled drags that create friction
• Mixed-use zones combining lifting platforms, open floor space, and rig areas

Sports Village Qatar has written in depth on this topic in a dedicated guide covering flooring for CrossFit and functional training gyms, which explains how training style and athlete volume should guide your flooring choice.

Hotel Gym Flooring Supplier Qatar: What Hospitality Properties Need

Hotels have unique flooring requirements compared to standalone gyms. As a hotel gym flooring supplier Qatar properties trust, Sports Village Qatar understands that hotel fitness centers must balance:

• Aesthetic appeal for guest-facing spaces
• Noise control to avoid disturbing nearby rooms
• Low maintenance for properties without dedicated gym staff
• Durability for inconsistent usage patterns throughout the day

Hospitality clients are part of the broader commercial gym equipment solutions Sports Village Qatar delivers across Qatar, often paired with full equipment packages.

Gym Flooring Installation Qatar: What to Expect

Gym flooring installation Qatar projects typically follow these stages:

1. Site assessment – measuring the space and checking subfloor condition
2. Material selection – choosing rubber type, tile size, or turf based on training zones
3. Subfloor preparation – ensuring the surface is level, clean, and dry
4. Installation – laying tiles, rolls, or interlocking pieces with proper seams
5. Finishing – trimming edges and securing transitions between zones

Professional installation matters because poorly fitted seams can lift over time, creating trip hazards and reducing the lifespan of your investment.

Sports Flooring Solutions Doha Qatar Gym Owners Can Rely On

Whether you run a boutique studio or manage a multi-location chain, working with an established sports flooring solutions Doha Qatar provider reduces risk. Sports Village Qatar has supplied flooring since 2006 as part of its broader role as a trusted fitness equipment supplier in Qatar, partnering with international brands like Ecore USA and Paviflex Spain.

Gym Rubber Mat Supplier Qatar: Choosing the Right Partner

When comparing options as a gym rubber mat supplier Qatar facility owners shortlist, look for:

• ISO-certified materials
• Fire resistance and anti-static properties
• A track record with commercial, hotel, and home installations
• After-sales support and warranty coverage

This is also where flooring connects to your broader setup. If you are still finalizing your space, Sports Village Qatar’s guide comparing home vs commercial gym equipment can help align your flooring choice with your equipment plan.

Commercial Fitness Flooring Qatar: Buying Considerations

Before finalizing commercial fitness flooring Qatar purchases, weigh these factors:

• Budget per square meter, including installation costs
• Training zones, since cardio, strength, and functional areas often need different products
• Maintenance demands, as some materials require more frequent cleaning
• Climate factors, since Qatar’s heat and humidity can affect adhesive performance and material expansion

Pairing flooring with the right commercial gym accessories also helps create a cohesive, professional training environment from floor to equipment.

Gym Flooring Buy Online Qatar: Is It Worth It?

Buying gym flooring buy online Qatar options has become more common, offering convenience and the ability to compare specifications before committing. However, flooring is one category where measurements and site-specific advice make a real difference, so combining online browsing with a consultation call typically produces better results than buying blind.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best thickness for gym flooring in a weightlifting area?
For weightlifting zones, 20mm or thicker rubber flooring is generally recommended to absorb impact from dropped plates and protect the subfloor.

Is rubber flooring better than tiles for a commercial gym?
Rubber flooring rolls offer fewer seams and better shock absorption for heavy-use zones, while tiles offer flexibility for custom layouts and easier section replacement.

How long does gym flooring installation take?
Installation timelines depend on facility size, but most commercial gym flooring projects in Qatar are completed within a few days once the subfloor is prepared.

Can gym flooring help reduce noise in hotel fitness centers?
Yes, rubber flooring significantly reduces impact noise and vibration, which is especially important in hotels and residential buildings with shared walls or floors.

Does Sports Village Qatar offer flooring installation services?
Yes, Sports Village Qatar provides supply and installation support for rubber flooring, tiles, and turf across commercial gyms, hotels, schools, and home setups in Qatar.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right gym flooring Qatar solution comes down to matching material and thickness to how your space will actually be used. A hotel gym, a CrossFit box, and a home setup each demand different priorities, but all benefit from working with a supplier who understands local climate, training trends, and installation standards.

Ready to upgrade your facility? Get a free consultation with Sports Village Qatar’s flooring specialists today and find the right fit for your fitness space.