12 Feb 2025
Aspire Academy welcomed more than 900 visitors to its activities to mark Qatar National Sport Day 2025. The vibrant celebrations on Aspire Academy's football pitches were part of the events organised by Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF).
Among the guests at the AZF events was His Excellency Mr. Hassan bin Abdulla Al-Ghanim, the Speaker of the Shura Council. He also visited the Aspire Academy's activities and impressed onlookers with his football shooting skills. AZF's Acting CEO Abdullah Nasser Al-Nuaimi also enjoyed the atmosphere at the Academy's celebrations.
They were among the more than 600 people who participated in the "Test Yourself" challenges. Those putting themselves to the test came from all ages and ranged from young aspiring athletes to families to sports enthusiasts from the local community. The challenges set up by Aspire Academy's coaches featured 11 different activity stations. Each one offered participants a chance to experience professional training techniques and an insight into the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. The stations, which also featured some of the latest technology used at Aspire Academy, included tests for reactions, shooting accuracy, speed, vertical jumps, and agility. Every participant was given a card to record their results on and a certificate of completion at the end to recognise their achievement.
This year's event also featured a cognitive element with activities developed by Aspire Academy's Education Department. These challenges offered participants the chance to engage in exercises that combined mental agility with physical movement.
Several participants showed remarkable potential, and the very best received Golden Tickets in recognition of their exceptional achievements. These awards offer the recipients the chance to join Aspire Academy's Pre-Academy Athletics Programme, where they can develop their skills further and ultimately earn a place at the Academy.
Ali Sultan Fakhroo, Chief Corporate Services Officer at Aspire Academy, commented on the occasion: "It is an honour to celebrate another edition of National Sport Day with the community at Aspire Academy. We witnessed a fantastic turnout for the events and activities that we organised for the public, reflecting our mission to promote sports and an active lifestyle among community members. Today also provides Aspire Academy with the opportunity to showcase our commitment to sports excellence. As Qatar celebrates its rich sports legacy, we take great pride in the Academy's state-of-the-art facilities and achievements, especially as we mark our 20th anniversary."
Aspire Academy also hosted a National Sport Day Football Tournament, featuring talented young players born in 2016 from 14 clubs in the first and second divisions of the Qatar Stars League (QSL). The tournament featured a competitive group-stage format with an exhilarating final match, with Al Duhail, crowned champions after defeating Al-Gharafa. The awards, which also included invitations to the best players to join the Academy's Elite Feeder teams, were handed out by Saeed Ali H A Al-Marri, the director of football administration.
Emad Al Hajaji, Al Duhail's assistant coach, stressed the importance of the event: "This event is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate National Sports Day through an enjoyable and beneficial activity for children. It offers us a new experience, as there haven't been tournaments for this age group in clubs before. It's a great opportunity not only for Aspire Academy to discover emerging talents but also for us as coaches to enhance players' skills at this crucial formative stage."
Aspire Academy's celebration of Qatar National Sport Day once again underscored its dedication to fostering a culture of sports excellence and community involvement. By providing a platform for youth to showcase their talents and experience professional-level training, Aspire Academy continues to inspire and nurture the next generation of athletes in Qatar.