Doha, October 24 (QNA) – The SeaShore Doha Water Polo 4×4 Tournament came to a close Saturday at Old Doha Port after a three-day championship organized by the Qatar Aquatics Federation, with 12 teams from Qatar and across the Gulf and Arab world competing.

Sharks captured the open-category title and gold medals, while Kuwait Club took silver as runners-up. Tunisia’s Carthage team finished third with bronze.

In the junior category, Al Safliya claimed the title, followed by Al Aliya in second place and Sharaowa in third.

Players from the top-finishing teams also claimed individual honors. Yaqub Al Tamimi, Kuwait Club’s goalkeeper, won Best Goalkeeper in the open category, while his teammate Saud Al Otaibi claimed the tournament’s top-scorer award. Ahmed Barakat of Sharks was named Best Player.

In the junior category, Ahmed Mohammed Al Bakri won Best Goalkeeper, Hamad Al Ali claimed the top-scorer award, and Mohammed Ali Al Anzi was named Best Player.

President of the Qatar Aquatics Federation, Mubarak bin Ali Al Nuaimi, said the tournament was part of the federation’s strategy to develop water polo in Qatar. He stressed that its ambitions extend beyond domestic competitions to building a national team capable of competing internationally and delivering strong performances at major events.

The federation is pursuing the inclusion of 4×4 water polo in the Olympic Games program and at the Doha 2030 Asian Games, Al Nuaimi highlighted, noting that the format could broaden the sport’s reach and attract new players and fans.

Al Nuaimi added that the tournament offered a valuable opportunity to identify rising Qatari talent. Teams from Qatar and other Gulf and Arab countries raised the competitive level and gave players valuable experience against regional opponents, he said.

The federation is working to build a national team capable of winning medals and challenging for top finishes at international competitions, he added.

Chief operating officer at Old Doha Port, Mohammed Al Atwan, welcomed the tournament, saying the matches featured intense competition and closely contested action.

Al Atwan said Old Doha Port continued to support Qatari sports by hosting sporting and community events. The tournament marked the port’s third collaboration with the Qatar Aquatics Federation, he noted.

Director of the Tournament, Fahad Saeed Al Shahrani, said 12 teams competed: eight in the open category and four in the junior division. He praised the strong fan turnout, which added to the event’s atmosphere.

Al Shahrani said the organizing committee had prioritized the junior division, recognizing young athletes as the future of water polo in Qatar. He stressed the importance of giving them regular opportunities to compete and hone their technical skills and physical conditioning.

International relations official at SeaShore Group, Ali Hassan Al Mohannadi, said the partnership with the Federation had produced a successful tournament. He praised the standard of play and strong spectator engagement.

Al Mohannadi said supporting sports and young people was integral to the group’s social responsibility, adding that SeaShore hoped to expand its support for sporting competitions and initiatives targeting Qatari youth. (QNA)