The QIA-India team has won the prestigious Asian Community Football Tournament held recently.
They defeated Nepal in the final held at the historic Al Sadd stadium, on penalty shootouts as both teams failed to score in the regular time. The QIA-India organising team threw a lavish reception in honour of the winning team after the final match.
The championship, organised in the build-up to Qatar 2022 World Cup, demonstrated the passion for the game that the local expatriate communities bring to the sport.
The thrilling final, after almost a month-long championship, witnessed a thrilling game of football. The game was full of ups and downs; after completion of both halves, the two teams remained level on 0-0. The match was decided on penalty shootout where the Indian team won by 5-3.
The Qatar Indian Association for Sports and Games (QIA) management arranged a glittering reception for all the players at Shalimar restaurant. The players were given flower bouquets and a small public function was arranged to felicitate the players.
QIA President Abdurahman, COO Safeer, and QIA patrons MS Bukhari, Mohammed Qutb, Mohammed Habibun Nabi were invited on stage to speak. Bukhari sponsored the mementos for each players and match officials besides hosting the dinner. He praised the players for their efforts.
“Team India has made us proud and put the Tri-colour on top; it gives immense happiness to the Indian expatriate community in Doha to see the Indian football team [do well on] the ground,” said Bukhari.
Mohammed Qutb gave a similar message and conveyed his gratitude to Qatar Football Association for the tournament. He briefed the audience about the tournament structure and how it was organised. 
Mohammad Habibun Nabi applauded the team’s performance and said that such tournaments bring communities closer together.
“Such community initiatives not only bring different communities together through support, they also show the huge fan following that the sport of football enjoys here in Doha,” Nabi told Community.
“These initiatives should continue to be organised as it would create the right kind of atmosphere for the 2022 World Cup in the country and would also assist in the preparations,” he added.
Nabi said it was a thrilling match with neither of the teams managing any goals during the regular time. But this time, Team India managed to pull it off finally and “we congratulate them on their victory.”
Abdurrahman expressed his happiness and joy on Team India’s win and assured that his full support will continue to be with the team. 
Safeer thanked all the players and officials, media and the entire Indian community for their support and best wishes for the tournament. The mementos were distributed by the dignitaries to the players and officials before they were lead to the food.
Ten teams from Goa, Tamil Nadu and Kerala participated. The teams were split into two groups of five teams each. Following group matches in a league format, two teams from each group advanced to the semi-finals. The final match was played on May 7.
The tournament was unique in Qatar as it was played at the historic Doha Stadium, the first stadium in the country and attracted thousands of Indian football fans.