Doha, November 13 (QNA) - The 28th Asian Bowling Championships opened in Doha today, bringing together 168 male and female athletes from 18 Asian nations, including some of the sport's leading players.

Hosted by the Qatar Bowling Federation at its bowling center, the tournament will run until November 23.

Teams from Qatar, China, Hong Kong, Jordan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Kuwait, Macau, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, Chinese Taipei, the United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan are taking part. With 108 men and 60 women competing for titles, the championship is expected to feature strong competition.

The opening ceremony was attended by Sheikh Talal Mohammad Al-Sabah, President of the International, Asian, and Kuwaiti Bowling Federations; Abdulrahman Abdullah Hassan Al Maliki, Assistant Undersecretary for Sports Affairs at the Ministry of Sports and Youth; and Abdullah Sultan Al Qattan, President of the Qatar Bowling Federation and Vice President of the Asian Bowling Federation. Members of the Qatari and Asian federations, heads of participating delegations, sports figures, and tournament guests also attended.

The ceremony featured performances celebrating the cultural diversity and heritage of the participating nations. Highlights included a parade of the teams' flags, symbolizing unity and fellowship within the Asian bowling community and adding to the festive atmosphere, as well as a performance of the traditional Qatari Ardha dance.

Speaking at the ceremony, Sheikh Talal Mohammad Al-Sabah praised the Qatar Bowling Federation's preparations and organizational efforts for the 28th Asian Men's and Women's Bowling Championships in Doha. He said Qatar's hosting of the continental event underscored its prominent standing and proven ability to organize major sporting championships.

Al-Sabah expressed his pleasure and pride in attending the opening in Doha and thanked the Qatar Bowling Federation for hosting the tournament and for its outstanding preparations and organization. He noted that this standard was consistent with the federation's extensive experience in hosting and managing major sporting events.

He said the championship offered an important opportunity to bring together the continent's leading male and female bowlers, strengthen ties among participating federations, and promote sporting competition. He looked forward to closely contested, high-level performances reflecting bowling's continued development and advanced technical standards in Asia.

The President of the International, Asian, and Kuwaiti Bowling Federations also thanked all participating Asian federations and expressed his hope that the athletes would perform at their best and achieve their goals in a spirit of fair competition and sportsmanship.

He also thanked the State of Qatar and the Ministry of Sports and Youth for the generous support, describing it as essential to the success of continental sporting events and the development of bowling across Asia. He concluded by wishing all participating nations and teams success. 

In his address at the opening ceremony, Abdullah Sultan Al Qattan, President of the Qatar Bowling Federation, expressed the State of Qatar's pride in hosting the 28th Asian Men's and Women's Bowling Championships. The tournament, taking place in Doha from November 13 to 22, features elite male and female bowlers from across Asia and brings the continent's champions together in a spirit of fair competition.

The Qatar Bowling Federation welcomes all participating delegations and national teams to their second home, Qatar, said Al Qattan, expressing his delight at hosting this significant continental event, which marks a major milestone for bowling in Asia and gives athletes a platform to showcase their technical skills and compete at the highest level.

He added that hosting the championships reflects the Federation's commitment to supporting and developing the sport and to strengthening its standing in Asia. By hosting major tournaments and providing an optimal environment for their success, the Federation aims to raise the technical standard of the game and broaden its base of participation.

The President of the Qatar Bowling Federation extended his sincere gratitude to the Asian Bowling Federation for its ongoing cooperation and for entrusting Qatar with hosting the championship, emphasizing that partnership and coordination among sports federations are a fundamental pillar of the sport's development across the continent. He also expressed his profound thanks to the Ministry of Sports and Youth for its continuous and generous support, and for providing everything needed for the tournament's success, ensuring it is presented in a manner befitting Qatar's standing and its distinguished reputation for hosting international and continental sporting events.

Al Qattan concluded his remarks by welcoming all participating delegations, wishing the teams and athletes the best of luck and success, and expressing his hope that they would deliver outstanding performances. He also anticipated a highly competitive tournament that reflects the progress of bowling in Asia and strengthens the bonds of brotherhood and cooperation among all participating nations. (QNA)