UAE clash with hosts Qatar in key soccer game today

Doha: The UAE soccer team meet Qatar today in a match that may help decide which side accompany Uzbekistan to the quarterfinals of the competition.

Uzbekistan are on top of Group A with six points, having defeated both UAE and Qatar.

If the UAE beat Qatar today they will have four points and will be second in the group, but will have to wait for the results of the other group matches to decide their fate.

The top teams from the six groups will qualify for the quarters, along with the best two second-placed teams from the six groups.

"It will not be easy to reach the quarters with four points," said Jamal Bu Hindi, the UAE team manager. "We came to Doha to implement the Football Association's plans for the 2008 Beijing Olympics," he added.

Meanwhile, Shamma Al Muhairi and Shaikha Al Rumaithi will take part today in the 25-metre air pistol event which will be held at the Lusail Shooting Range here. Al Muhairi had finished 32nd in the 10-metre air pistol event held on Sunday, while Shaikha Al Rumaithi was 60th.

Volleyball clash

The UAE volleyball team meet Kuwait today in an important match. They need to win this game in order to keep their semifinals hopes. They had lost 3-0 to Saudi Arabia earlier. They play India in the last group match on Saturday.

In snooker, the UAE duo of Mohammad Al Joker and Mohammad Shehab both lost in the last-16 stage.

The two UAE players had first won against the Bangladesh duo of Azad Zia and Haroon Salman 3-2. However, they lost to Ding Junhui and Tian Pengfei of China 3-0.

UAE Judo players Mehdi Al Qubaisi and Khalifa Al Qubaisi lost in the first round. Mehdi lost to Pak Chol Min of North Korea while Khalifa lost to Lee Won Hee from South Korea.

The UAE handball team lost their opening match to Saudi Arabia 33-29.