Doha [Qatar], April 30: Qatar claimed two golds and a silver to conclude its participation in the Asian Beach Games 2026 in Sanya, China, with a strong showing on Wednesday.
Qatar's 3x3 men's basketball and men's beach volleyball teams clinched gold medals while the men's beach handball team claimed silver.
Cherif and Tijan crowned with Sanya 2026 gold
Qatar's beach colleyball duo of Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan won gold defeating their Iranian counterparts 21-15, 21-12 in the final.
The achievement represents the culmination of a remarkable run by the Qatari national team since the start of the tournament. They topped Group B with a perfect record, securing three victories against the Maldives, Uzbekistan, and Iran. They then overcame the second Qatari team in an all-Qatari encounter in the Round of 16, before continuing their impressive performance by defeating China in the quarter-finals and Thailand in the semis, ultimately winning the final.
The Thai national team claimed the bronze medal after defeating Oman 2-0 in the third-place match.
Ali Ghanem Al Kuwari, President of the Qatar Volleyball Association, dedicated the gold medal won by the Qatari duo, Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan, at the 2016 Asian Beach Games in Sanya to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of Qatar, and to His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Olympic Council of Asia and President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, in appreciation of their continuous support and patronage of the sport. He also dedicated the medal to the Qatari people, who always stand behind their national teams, noting that this achievement represents the culmination of a continuous journey of hard work and planning.
Al Kuwari emphasized that the appointment of HE Sheikh Joaan as President of the Olympic Council of Asia, in addition to his other leadership positions, has directly contributed to enhancing the standing of Qatari sports on the continent. He explained that this leadership presence has positively impacted various sports, including volleyball, which continues to achieve outstanding results at the Asian level. This role has also helped solidify Qatar's image as an active player in the development of Asian sports, earning it significant respect and appreciation in various forums. This, in turn, gives the national teams an added boost and greater confidence during their international competitions.
Mohammed Anbar Al Nasser, Director of the National Beach Volleyball Teams, affirmed that winning the gold medal was the result of a long period of cumulative work. He pointed out that the team entered the tournament with a clear plan focused on maintaining consistent performance throughout the various stages of the competition, which was directly reflected in the decisive matches.
Qatar's 3x3 basketball
team triumphs
Qatar's men's 3x3 basketball team won the gold medal at the Asian Beach Games defeating Thailand 21-10 in the final on Wednesday.
The victory came after a busy day in which the team played two crucial matches. They began their journey in the finals with a 18-16 win over China in the semi-finals, in a fast-paced and high-intensity game, before continuing their dominance in the final against Thailand.
Thailand reached the final after defeating the Philippines 20-18 in the semi-finals, setting up a decisive match against Qatar for the gold medal.
China secured the bronze medal after defeating the Philippines 21-13 in the third-place match.
The Qatar team demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of pressure during the semi-final and final matches, maintaining their fast-paced style of play and capitalizing on attacking opportunities to secure victories in both matches and deservedly claim the championship title.
The Qatar team reached this stage after a stellar run in the tournament, topping Group C with a perfect record after three consecutive wins against Bahrain, Kazakhstan, and India, before continuing their impressive performance by defeating Iran in the quarter-finals.
In the women's competition, the Qatari team exited the tournament in the second round after losing to Singapore, having qualified for this stage by finishing third in their group.
Mohammed Saad Al Mughaiseeb, President of the Qatar Basketball Federation, dedicated the gold medal in the 3x3 basketball competition at the Asian Beach Games - Sanya 2026 to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of Qatar, and to His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Olympic Council of Asia and President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, in appreciation of their support for Qatari sports.
He emphasized that the Qatari team deservedly won the title after their outstanding performance throughout the tournament. He noted that this victory marks the third consecutive time the Qatari team has won the gold medal in 3x3 basketball at the Asian Beach Games, following their wins in 2014 and 2016, reflecting Qatar's dominance in this sport at the Asian level.
Saadoun Al Kuwari, Secretary General of the Qatar Basketball Federation, affirmed that winning the gold medal in the 3x3 basketball competition at the Asian Beach Games - Sanya 2026 represents a continuation of the national team's successful run at this level. He pointed out that this title is the third for Al-Adaam (the Qatari national team) in the history of its participation in the Games, following the gold medals in 2014 and 2016, reflecting Qatar's consistent presence and dominance in this category.
Al Kuwari dedicated this achievement to His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Olympic Council of Asia and President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, in appreciation of the significant support provided to the national teams, which contributed to creating the appropriate conditions for achieving these results.
Qatar's beach handball team wins silver after a remarkable run
Qatar's beach handball team secured the silver medal at the Asian Beach Games following a hard-fought 1-2 defeat to Iran in the final on Wednesday. The match was decided in a tiebreaker.
The achievement caps a remarkable run for the Qatari team throughout the tournament, beginning with a series of victories against Pakistan, Oman, Bangladesh, Mongolia, and Jordan, before Qatar secured first place in their group with a victory over Thailand and continued their winning streak by defeating Bahrain in the semi-finals to reach the final.
Meanwhile, Thailand claimed the bronze medal after defeating Bahrain 2-0 in the third-place match.
Qatar's beach handball team is considered one of the most prominent teams on the continental and international stage, boasting a rich history of achievements. These include winning the Asian Beach Games title three times (2012 in China, 2014 in Thailand, and 2016 in Vietnam), as well as a distinguished global presence. They won the silver medal at the 2022 World Games and the bronze medal at the World Championships twice (2014 and 2016), clearly demonstrating their continued excellence and ability to compete at various levels.
Source: Qatar Tribune
