Sanya: Qatar's beach handball team booked their semi-final spot at the Asian Beach Games Sanya 2026 with a 2-0 win over Thailand on Sunday.
Qatar sealed the win with set scores of 26-20 and 22-20, extending their perfect run in the competition and topping Group B with 12 points. The team had opened their campaign with consecutive victories over Pakistan and Oman, before continuing their dominance against Bangladesh, Mongolia, and Jordan.
The Qatari side will conclude their preliminary round fixtures against the Maldives on Monday, ahead of the semi-finals scheduled for Tuesday. The final is set to take place on Thursday.
Qatar, the defending champions, are aiming to maintain their unbeaten streak and retain the title in Sanya.
In beach volleyball, Qatar's top team of Sherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan advanced to the quarter-finals after defeating Qatar's second team comprising Mohammed Ehab and Mousa Al Khair in straight sets (21 10, 21 16) in an all-Qatar Round of 16 clash.
The first team had earlier topped Group B with a perfect record, defeating Maldives, Uzbekistan, and Iran in the preliminary stage.
Meanwhile, Qatar's second team progressed to the knockout rounds after finishing second in their group, recording wins over Saudi Arabia and Macau before falling to China in their final group match.
Sherif and Tijan are set to face China in the quarter-finals on Monday.
In 3x3 basketball, Qatar's men's team will face India on Monday in their final preliminary round match. The team has already secured two consecutive victories over Bahrain and Kazakhstan and will be aiming for a third win to confirm top spot in their group.
On the women's side, Qatar will take on Kazakhstan in their second group match, looking to bounce back after an opening loss to China.
In wrestling, Qatar's men's team continues preparations ahead of their competition, which begins on Tuesday. The squad includes Saad Al Hammadi (80kg) and Hamad Al Nuaimi (70kg), both aiming to deliver strong performances that reflect the sport's development in Qatar.
The participation is also seen as a valuable opportunity to gain experience and compete against some of Asia's top wrestlers.
