Staff Reporter
Sanya: President of the Olympic Council of Asia and President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, officially declared the 6th edition of the Asian Beach Games Sanya 2026 closed, bringing an end to a vibrant and highly successful continental gathering that he described as “exceptional” in every sense.
The closing ceremony, staged at Yasha Park in Sanya, provided a fitting finale to a Games that showcased not only elite athletic performance but also the unity and shared ambition of Asia’s sporting community. In his closing address, Sheikh Joaan emphasized the collective spirit that defined the event, underscoring how collaboration across nations elevated the Games into a historic milestone.
“Together, as one Asia, we made history,” he said. “Through our love of sport and our shared dream, we have showcased the very best of our continent.” His remarks highlighted the symbolic and practical importance of unity in sport, positioning the Games as a platform for both excellence and solidarity.
Sheikh Joaan also praised the host city for exceeding expectations, noting that Sanya successfully established itself as a capable and ambitious destination for major international events. He commended the efforts of the Chinese Olympic Committee, the local organizing committee, and the government of China for delivering a tournament that met the highest organizational standards.
“I have no doubt that this will be the first of many major sporting events hosted by Sanya,” he added. “The spirit of this city will remain with us, reminding us that when Asia stands united, anything is possible.”
A key moment of the ceremony was the traditional handover of the OCA flag, symbolizing continuity between editions. The Mayor of Sanya presented the flag to the President of the Chinese Olympic Committee, who then passed it to Sheikh Joaan. In turn, Sheikh Joaan handed it to Abraham Tolentino, marking the official transition to Cebu City, host of the next Games scheduled for March 2028.
Qatar celebrates sporting excellence
Parallel to the closing celebrations, Qatar’s delegation marked its own achievements with pride and recognition. Under the patronage of Sheikh Joaan, His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari, Second Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, hosted a formal dinner honoring the athletes and officials who contributed to the country’s success.
The event brought together senior sports officials, including Ali Ghanem Al Kuwari and Mohammed Saad Al Mughaisib, alongside players and administrative staff. The atmosphere reflected both celebration and acknowledgment of a campaign defined by discipline, preparation, and execution.
Qatar’s performance in Sanya reinforced its growing stature in beach sports, particularly in team disciplines. The national teams secured two gold medals and one silver, underlining their competitiveness at the continental level.
Golden triumphs in volleyball and basketball
The beach volleyball duo of Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan delivered a commanding performance throughout the tournament, culminating in a straight-sets victory over Iran in the final. Their campaign was marked by consistency and tactical cohesion, having progressed through the group stage unbeaten with wins against Maldives, Uzbekistan, and Iran.
Their momentum continued in the knockout rounds, where they defeated China in the quarterfinals and Thailand in the semifinals before sealing gold with authority in the final.
Similarly, Qatar’s men’s 3×3 basketball team demonstrated dominance, securing the gold medal with a decisive 21–10 victory over Thailand. The team maintained a flawless record in Group C, overcoming Bahrain, Kazakhstan, and India, before advancing through the knockout stages with victories against Iran and China. Their semifinal win, a tightly contested 18–16 result, showcased resilience under pressure and set the stage for a commanding final performance.
Narrow silver in beach handball
Qatar’s beach handball team added a silver medal to the tally after a closely contested final against Iran. The match extended to a tiebreaker, reflecting the evenly matched quality of both sides, before Qatar ultimately settled for second place.
The team’s journey to the final was impressive, highlighted by a perfect group-stage record with victories over Pakistan, Oman, Bangladesh, Mongolia, and Jordan. Continued wins against Thailand and Bahrain in the subsequent rounds reinforced their consistency and competitive edge throughout the tournament.
Broad participation across disciplines
Qatar’s delegation consisted of 34 athletes competing across seven sports, including beach volleyball, 3×3 basketball, handball, sailing, aquathlon, jiu-jitsu, and wrestling. This breadth of participation demonstrated the country’s expanding footprint in beach sports and its commitment to developing talent across multiple disciplines.
Strong organizational backing
Mohammed Al-Musnad, head of the administrative delegation, described the overall participation as meeting expectations both in performance and operational execution. He emphasized that the results were the product of coordinated efforts across athletes, coaching staff, and administrators, all supported by a structured and well-planned mission framework.
Al-Musnad noted that logistical arrangements were handled efficiently from arrival to departure, ensuring athletes could focus entirely on competition. He also praised the collaborative spirit within the delegation, which contributed to stability and performance consistency.
He extended appreciation to the Chinese organizers for delivering a seamless and high-standard event, highlighting the professional environment that enabled athletes to perform at their peak.
China leads medal standings
Host nation China topped the medal table with a commanding total of 55 medals, including 24 gold, 18 silver, and 13 bronze, reflecting its dominance across multiple disciplines. Thailand secured second place with 28 medals, while Iran finished third with 10 medals, driven by an impressive nine golds.
Vietnam claimed fourth position with 13 medals, followed by the Philippines in fifth with nine medals, underscoring the competitive diversity across participating nations.
As the curtain falls on Sanya 2026, the Games leave behind a legacy defined by excellence, unity, and organizational success. For Qatar, the edition represents another step forward in its sustained rise within Asian sport, while for Asia as a whole, it reaffirms the power of sport to unite cultures and inspire collective achievement.
