Sanya [China], April 27: Qatar's beach handball team has qualified for the semi-finals of the 2026 Asian Beach Games in Sanya after defeating Thailand 2-0 (26-20, 22-20) in their first-round match on Sunday.
The win secured Qatar top spot in Group B with 12 points, following a close contest between the two sides, who entered the match level on 10 points from five wins each.
The victory underlined Qatar's dominance in the group stage, as they beat their closest rivals for top spot to maintain a perfect run and strengthen their position heading into the knockout rounds.
Qatar opened their campaign with wins over Pakistan and Oman, before extending their streak against Bangladesh and Mongolia, and then defeating Jordan in their fifth match.
They conclude their first-round fixtures against the Maldives today, with the semi-finals scheduled for Monday. The final will be held on Thursday, as Qatar aim to maintain their momentum and defend their title.
Younousse, Tijan advance
Qatar's top beach volleyball team of Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan qualified for the quarter-finals of the Asian Beach Games - Sanya 2026 after defeating compatriots Mohamed Ehab and Abu Mousa Al Khair in straight sets (21-10, 21-16) in an all-Qatari round-of-16 clash.
In today's quarter-finals, the duo will face China, who advanced after beating Thailand 2-1. The Qatari pair will aim to maintain their strong form and progress to the final stages.
The team topped Group B with a perfect record, securing three consecutive wins against the Maldives and Uzbekistan before concluding the first round with a 2-1 victory over Iran (21-11, 21-23, 15-13).
Qatar are competing in the beach volleyball event with four teams-two men's and two women's-highlighting the sport's growing development at the continental level.
Meanwhile, Qatar's men's 3x3 basketball team concludes its first-round campaign at the Asian Beach Games - Sanya 2026 with a crucial match against India on Monday. The team aims to secure top spot in the group and maintain momentum ahead of the knockout stages.
Qatar enter the match in high spirits after a strong start, recording back-to-back wins over Bahrain and Kazakhstan. Their performances highlighted strong technical and physical readiness, a fast-paced style of play, and efficient finishing in attack.
The women's team will play their second group match against Kazakhstan, looking to bounce back from an opening defeat to China. The players aim to improve performance and gain valuable experience in the continental competition.
Wrestling team arrives
Qatar's men's wrestling team arrived in Sanya on Sunday to take part in the Asian Beach Games. The squad immediately began training to acclimatise and sharpen readiness ahead of competition.
The team features Saad Al Hammadi (80kg) and Hamad Al Nuaimi (70kg), who continue preparations for their respective events.
The wrestlers are scheduled to compete on Tuesday, aiming to deliver strong performances that reflect the sport's development in Qatar and gain experience against some of the continent's top competitors.
China continue to top the medal table at the Asian Beach Games - Sanya 2026, reaching 28 medals (13 gold, 11 silver, 4 bronze), underlining their dominance across multiple sports.
Thailand remain second with 12 medals (4 gold, 5 silver, 3 bronze), while the Philippines sit third with 7 medals (3 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze).
Source: Qatar Tribune
