Doha, September 11 (QNA) - The Qatar Chess Association has announced the accreditation of Qatari referee Sara Al Mohannadi to the FIDE list of international arbiters, marking a significant achievement that reflects Qatar's progress in developing sports refereeing skills.

In a statement, the association noted that Sara Al Mohannadi's accreditation is the result of ongoing strategic efforts to qualify and develop the chess refereeing system in Qatar. It described the achievement a direct reflection of long-term investment in national cadres through training programs and courses, international partnerships, and hands-on experience in local and regional tournaments.

In remarks to Qatar News Agency (QNA), President of the Qatar Chess Association, Mohammed Al Mudahka, emphasized that this accreditation represents an important opportunity to enhance the presence of Qatari referees in major tournaments, which will contribute to enhancing the reputation of Qatari sports. He praised Sara Al Mohannadi's efforts during her participation in leading international tournaments in recent years.

For her part, international arbiter Al Mohannadi expressed her great happiness at receiving the title which opens the door for her to referee major international competitions.

She considered her achievement of the international referee title the fruit of long-standing efforts, having participated in refereeing numerous local, Arab, and international competitions, such as the 2023 Qatar Masters Open, the 2024 World Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, the 2025 Asian Men's and Women's Individual Chess Championships in Al Ain, UAE, and the 2025 World Rapid and Blitz Team Chess Championships in London.

Al Mohannadi expressed her eagerness to participate in managing the upcoming World Championship, which Doha will host this December, in addition to her aspirations to lead several international tournaments.

It is worth noting that the Qatar Chess Association has achieved remarkable progress in recent years including refereeing and developing the game within schools through the 'Naqla' project, and expanding international participation within a comprehensive vision aimed at strengthening the presence of Qatari chess regionally and internationally. (QNA)