Washington, October 27 (QNA) - Qatar's eight-way formation skydiving team, the Qatar Falcons, claimed silver at the 2026 World Skydiving Championships in Eloy, Arizona, held Oct. 18–24, finishing second among the world's top teams.

The Falcons amassed 186 points over 10 rounds, trailing the United States, which took gold with 196 points. Germany finished third with 139 points.

The podium finish underscored Qatar's ability to compete with the world's foremost skydiving teams. The Falcons demonstrated incredible precision, technical skill and seamless coordination in executing complex aerial formations, delivering a phenomenal performance at one of the sport's top-flight international competitions.

This feat carries special significance considering the complex and delicate nature of the sport, which demands thorough coordination among eight skydivers in freefall as they execute a sequence of aerial formations within a set time limit.

Overall, the world title underscored the growing stature of Qatar's air sports and the national teams' long-standing success on the global stage, demonstrating their ability to contend for top honors and secure podium finishes at the biggest international competitions.

HE Commander of Special Forces and Chairman of the Qatar Air Sports Committee (QASC) Maj. Gen. Mohammed bin Zayed Al Otaibi said the incredible achievement was a testament to the top-flight position Qatari air sports had attained on the global stage, demonstrating advances in technical skill and competitive stamina.

The phenomenal feat was an outgrowth of the unremitting support Qatari air sports had received from the country's leadership, along with meticulous care to advance these sports, HE Al Otaibi noted. He emphasized that this support was intended to expand the presence of air sports in international arenas, achieve further feats and bring honor to Qatar on the international stage.

HE Al Otaibi said he was proud of the champions, who demonstrated high skill, competitive spirit and doggedness to hoist Qatar's flag aloft on the podium, ushering in a new phase of continued achievement and pursuing further success in upcoming international contests.

He commended the incredible efforts of the players, as well as the coaching and administrative crew, asserting that the achievement had been the corollary of collective action, intensified training, and the focus and discipline of every team member.

Secretary-General of QASC Captain Hazza Hamad Al Attiyah said he was pleased with the achievement, emphasizing that clinching a silver medal in such a high-level competition confirmed the advanced stage Qatari air sports had attained. He said the result demonstrated the squad's ability to challenge international teams and contend for titles at major global events.

The Qatari champions delivered an incredible performance and remained focused throughout the tournament, Al Attiyah said. He explained that every player must factor in these traits in a sport that demands high coordination among the entire team, along with speed and precision in executing skydiving formations.

Al Attiyah noted that the team had proved their ability to handle intense competition and delivered a performance as incredible and phenomenal as the name of the State of Qatar.

The feat was an outgrowth of sustained preparation and combined efforts by the players and coaching and administrative staff, Al Attiyah acknowledged. He said what was particularly gratifying was the team's collective spirit and determination throughout the tournament, along with their resourcefulness in holding their own against the world's strongest teams- a performance eloquently underscored by their posting the highest score among all competing sides.

Al Attiyah underlined QASC's commitment to pressing ahead with steady progress, expressing its ambition to turn the strides made into further achievements, continue competing for gold medals, and hoist Qatar's flag at the world's top-flight international tournaments.

For his part, Captain of Qatar's eight-way formation skydiving team Abdullah Al Hammadi said the feat held special value for the entire team after an odyssey of extensive training to square off against the strongest competitors on the world stage.

Al Hammadi said the team entered the contest aware of its challenges, particularly when facing teams with long-standing expertise in the sport. However, significant trust remained among team members in their ability to reach a phenomenal level befitting the name of Qatar. (QNA)