05 Apr 2026
Following their return to school after the Eid holiday and a period of remote learning, Aspire Academy’s student-athletes have turned their attention to their 2nd semester mid-term exams.
The exams are scheduled to run until 8 April. They are being conducted online at the Academy to ensure the school can adapt to any changes in the current security situation in the country that require a return to remote learning.
Some student-athletes are currently in Saudi Arabia, with the Qatar national under-20 football team, while some of the athletics team are in South Africa, and they will be sitting their exams online from their respective training camps.
The fencing team have travelled to the 2026 Junior and Cadet Fencing World Championships and will complete their exams when they return to Doha, once the event for under-17 and under-20 fencers ends on 9 April.
During the period of remote learning due to the security situation in Qatar and the wider region, the student-athletes not only continued their academic studies from home but also maintained their sporting development and training.
In addition to continuing their academic progress and preparing for exams, the focus was on the physical and mental well-being of student-athletes and teachers.
Sports departments worked closely with student-athletes to maintain fitness levels and provided guidance in key areas, including nutrition and sports psychology.
Coaches also developed tailored approaches to help athletes remain focused and engaged as their overall development continued.
Several teams made significant adjustments to their routines. The Academy’s epee team trained and studied remotely in Hong Kong and Kazakhstan after being unable to return to Qatar due to regional security concerns, having been scheduled to fly back from the Asian Championships on 28 February—the same day Qatar closed its airspace.
The table tennis team used the time for some match analysis with coaches and student-athletes meeting online to review game footage and assess both the positive and negative aspects of their performances.
The players are now looking forward to competing for their clubs in domestic competitions in April, including the Emir Cup and the National Championships across different age groups.
Ahmed Korani is also preparing to be part of the Qatar team competing at the International Table Tennis Federation’s World Team Championships in London, starting on 28 April.
Elsewhere, the padel coaches created specialist drills to replicate on-court padel movements and to focus on power.
In April, the target padel players will travel to Spain and spend a week training alongside some of the best Spanish players in their various age categories.
The squash players trained daily with friends and family as best they could and held regular conversations with all the student-athletes to check on their well-being and offer any necessary advice.
The footballers, fencers and track and field student-athletes have all resumed their regular training schedules at Aspire Academy’s facilities.
Looking ahead, competitions and training camps—both locally and overseas—are being planned in line with government guidelines, with the safety, security, and well-being of student-athletes remaining the top priority.