Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani, president of the Olympic Council of Asia, awarded the top three men’s beach volleyball teams at the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, China, on April 29, 2026, after Qatar defeated Iran in the final to claim gold with Iran taking silver and Thailand securing bronze against Oman. The OCA president congratulated the medalists for their technical performances and competitive spirit that reflect Olympic values, according to the Qatar News Agency.
The Qatar News Agency reported that Qatar’s Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan defeated Iran’s Abolhassan Khakizadeh and AmirAli GhalehNovi by a score of 2-0 in the gold-medal match. Thailand’s Wachirawit Muadpha and Netitorn Muneekul then overcame Oman 2-0 to earn bronze. The result contributed one gold to Qatar’s overall tally of two golds, one silver and no bronzes at the Games.
Official medal table data from the Olympic Council of Asia placed host China first with 24 gold medals, 18 silver and 13 bronze for a total of 55. Thailand ranked second with 10 golds, nine silvers and nine bronzes while Iran stood third with nine golds and one silver. The beach volleyball competition formed part of a program that ran from April 22 to 30 and featured multiple beach disciplines across the Chinese coastal city.
Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani said the competitions highlight the growing development of beach sports on the continent. He added that the athletes displayed high technical performances and competitive spirit which reflect Olympic values. The OCA president noted that the council continues to support such events as platforms for Asian athletic talents.
A FIVB report stated that the Qatari pair are beneficiaries of the volleyball body’s empowerment programme and mastered a 2-0 shutout in the final. The Iranian duo completed the men’s podium while the Thai team claimed its first-ever men’s beach volleyball medal at the Games by beating Oman. The outcomes aligned with broader participation from more than 30 national Olympic committees at the event.
The Olympic Council of Asia has organised the Asian Beach Games since 2008, with Sanya 2026 marking the sixth edition of the continental multi-sport gathering dedicated to beach-based disciplines. Prior editions have included events in Indonesia, Oman, Thailand and Vietnam, helping to expand the profile of sports such as beach volleyball, beach handball and beach soccer. Records from the OCA show steadily increasing athlete numbers and medal events across the series.
