Staff Reporter
SANYA: Qatar’s elite athletes continue to shine at the Asian Beach Games – Sanya 2026, with the men’s beach volleyball and beach handball teams delivering masterclass performances to secure their advancement into the critical stages of the tournament.
Beach volleyball: Men’s teams unstoppable, women face tough start
Both Qatari men’s beach volleyball pairs have officially qualified for the Round of 16 following a dominant display in the preliminary rounds.
- Team A (Cherif Younousse & Ahmed Tijan): The Olympic bronze medalists dismantled Uzbekistan (21-14, 21-9) after an earlier opening win against the Maldives. They now face a high-stakes group-decider against Iran on Saturday.
- Team B (Mohamed Ehab & Moussa Al-Khair): Maintaining a perfect streak, the duo swept Macau (21-10, 21-5) and previously defeated Saudi Arabia. They head into a challenging final group match against hosts China.
In the women’s category, Qatar’s teams (Hashim/Shalabi and Abu Issa/Mohammed) faced stiff competition, dropping their opening matches to South Korea and Sri Lanka, respectively.
Beach handball: Perfect record maintained
The Qatari national beach handball team has extended its winning streak to five consecutive matches after overcoming a resilient Jordanian side.
- The Result: A hard-fought 2-0 victory (22-18, 18-16).
- Standings: Qatar now sits comfortably at the top of their group with 10 points.
- The Path Forward: Following previous wins against Pakistan, Oman, Bangladesh, and Mongolia, the team will wrap up the opening round against Thailand (Sunday) and the Maldives (Monday) as they eye the semifinals.
“The players’ experience was the deciding factor in the final minutes, especially given the difficult rainy conditions in Sanya,” noted Salem Al-Dosari, Team Manager.
3×3 basketball: Campaign tips off Saturday
The excitement shifts to the court as Qatar’s 3×3 basketball teams begin their journey:
- Men’s Team: Faces a double-header against Bahrain and Kazakhstan this Saturday. The roster features Mohammed Bashir, Dejan Janic, Nadem Muslic, and Osman Deng.
- Women’s Team: Debuts against powerhouse China on Saturday, followed by a clash with Kazakhstan on Monday.
Upcoming schedule highlights
| Date | Sport | Opponent | Significance |
| Sat, April 25 | Beach Volleyball (Men) | Iran / China | Group Decider |
| Sat, April 25 | 3×3 Basketball (Men) | Bahrain / Kazakhstan | Tournament Opener |
| Sun, April 26 | Beach Handball | Thailand | Group Lead Consolidation |
| Sun, April 26 | Beach Volleyball | TBA | Round of 16 |
