24 Jun 2026
Aspire Academy has celebrated its 19th batch of graduates at an impressive ceremony with 50 student-athletes being honoured.
The class of 2026 consisted of 26 footballers, 2 referees, 11 track-and-field athletes, 3 fencers, 2 squash players, 1 table tennis player, 1 padel player, and 4 swimmers.
Among those being recognised was a first-ever padel graduate, Abdulrahman Alyafei, who began his journey at Aspire Academy in 2023, when padel was added as a core sport alongside football, athletics, fencing, table tennis, and squash.
Among the attendees were Aspire Zone Foundation’s Acting CEO, Abdullah Nasser Al-Nuaimi, who was joined by other dignitaries, families, heads of various sports federations and other leaders, who paid tribute to the achievements of the Academy’s 19th batch of graduates.
The proceedings featured several videos, including one highlighting past graduations and another titled ‘Road to the Future’, which looks ahead to the role technology will play in sport and life.
There was also a Quran reading that was delivered by graduating fencer Abdurahman Al-Jadra.
Aspire Academy’s Deputy Director General, Ali Salem Afifa, addressed the attendees to pay tribute to the graduating student-athletes, all staff, and their families for their dedication and effort in achieving this milestone.
“Since the first class graduated in 2008, Aspire Academy has enriched Qatar’s sporting landscape with outstanding talent in sport and in life. You will now carry that torch and proudly raise the nation’s flag at international events,” he said.
“As we watch the FIFA World Cup 2026, we are proud that our graduates helped Qatar qualify for the finals and earn its first World Cup point.”
“The FIFA Under-17 World Cup, the second of five editions hosted by Qatar, will give our student-athletes and graduates another platform to showcase their talent and Aspire Academy’s world-class facilities.”
“Looking ahead to this year’s Asian Games and Qatar 2030, we remain focused on preparing future competitors who can contribute to national success across many sports, in line with our vision of developing champions in sport and in life.”
Jassem Al Jaber, who is now the Chief Education and Students Affairs Officer, highlighted that graduation is just one chapter in an ongoing story.
“We congratulate you all on graduating and wish you all the best,” he said.
“We are proud of what we have achieved, and we are determined to build on that, and one of the ways we are doing that is expanding our international partnership network.”
“This year, we signed several memorandums of understanding with global institutions, strengthening knowledge exchange and Aspire’s standing as a global reference in athlete education.”
Swimmer and water polo player Mohammed Jassim Al Marri spoke on behalf of the graduating student-athletes and reflected on what Aspire Academy means to him and his fellow graduates.
“We are not bidding farewell to the past; instead, we carry with us what we have learnt here as a guiding light for our future,” he said.
“As we look back, we can see how every step was a lesson, every athletic training session tested our determination, every examination challenged our will, and every sleepless night became an investment in a brighter day to come.”
“We were not merely students; we built our own destinies, turning ignorance into knowledge, weakness into strength, and uncertainty into a meaningful sporting journey.”
“We pledge to you, and to Allah, that we will be worthy ambassadors of this great institution, living up to your trust in us as builders of the future and bearers of the torches of sport and knowledge wherever we may go.”
The latest batch of alumni brings the number of student-athletes who have graduated from Aspire Academy since it opened in 2004 to 740.
The 19th batch of alumni leaves Aspire Academy inspired and equipped to pursue new challenges, carrying forward the values of discipline, leadership, and national pride as the Academy continues to shape Qatar’s athletic and academic landscape.