MUSCAT : The sixth Asian Beach Games, hosted by the Chinese city of Sanya from April 20 to 30, will feature Omani national teams competing in football, volleyball, handball, athletics, and modern pentathlon.

Oman’s flag will be carried at the opening ceremony by national modern pentathlon team player Mohammed Al Ghailani and national athletics team player Alia Al Mughairi. The Games will feature 1,790 male and female athletes from 45 countries, competing across 14 sports and 61 events.

The Asian Beach Games were first launched in 2008 in Bali, Indonesia, followed by the second edition hosted by the Sultanate of Oman in 2010. Subsequent editions were held in Haiyang, China (2012), Bangkok, Thailand (2014), and Nha Trang, Vietnam (2016), before the event was suspended for 10 years and resumed this year in 2026 in Sanya, China.

Omani national teams are continuing their intensive preparations on the tournament’s main venues, with the football, handball, and volleyball teams having played several friendly matches in recent days. The teams are aiming to deliver strong performances to maintain the competitive standing of Omani beach sports in international competitions.

Taha bin Sulaiman Al Kashri, member of the Board of Directors of the Oman Olympic Committee and head of the Sultanate’s delegation to the Games, said Oman’s participation represents an important milestone in the country’s sporting journey and reflects the development of its preparation and planning for international events.

He added that the Oman Olympic Committee views participation in the Games as an opportunity to strengthen Oman’s sporting presence, enhance competitive performance, and support the development of beach sports in the Sultanate.

He summarised the committee’s objectives into three main areas: achieving a respectable representation of the Sultanate of Oman and the Oman Olympic Committee, securing strong technical results in sports with realistic competitive opportunities, and using the event to develop beach sports and enhance the experience of players, coaches, and administrators.

Hamoud bin Salem Al Hasani, coach of the national beach handball team, also confirmed the team’s readiness for the competition following a comprehensive training programme focused on improving players’ physical, technical, and tactical performance. He said the coaching staff has diversified training sessions to match the tournament’s requirements, noting that the group includes strong and experienced teams.

He added that the squad combines experienced players with previous continental and international exposure alongside young talents eager to prove themselves at Asian level, creating a balanced team dynamic. He expressed hope for positive results and a potential top-three finish, stressing the importance of taking a step-by-step approach, beginning with qualification from the group stage and progressing through the knockout rounds.

For all the latest news from Oman and GCC, follow us on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, like us on Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube page, which is updated daily.