Qatar: Qatar's beach volleyball teams are gearing up to make their debut this Sunday at the 20th Asian Games, "Aichi-Nagoya 2026." The country will be represented by four teams in both the men's and women's events as they aim to maintain a robust presence on the continental stage and vie for top rankings in the Asian sporting event.
According to Qatar News Agency, Qatar 1, which features Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan, will be competing in Group A alongside teams from Oman and the Philippines. Meanwhile, Qatar 2, with Mousa Alkhir and Mohamed Ihab, is set to face off against teams from Thailand, Sri Lanka, and South Korea in Group D.
In the women's competition, Qatar 1's Malak Mohammed and Laila Mohammed are placed in Group F and will contend against Japan and Kazakhstan. On the other hand, Qatar 2's Haya Abu Eissa and Shaghaf Amin will take on teams from Hong Kong, Thailand, and Sri Lanka in Group H.
The Qatari teams are scheduled to begin their campaign this Sunday. Malak Mohammed and Laila Mohammed will face Japan's Sakura and Sawami in their opening match. Meanwhile, Haya Abu Eissa and Shaghaf Amin are set to compete against Thailand's Salinda and Patcharaporn on Monday.
In the men's matches, Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan will encounter the Philippines' team on Monday, while Mousa Alkhir and Mohamed Ihab will compete against South Korea in Group D's opening round.
The Qatari teams arrived in Japan on September 8, where they participated in a preparatory camp that included daily training sessions and friendly matches. This preparation aimed to enhance their physical and technical readiness for the Asian Games and to help them acclimatize to the conditions and venues.
Younousse and Tijan, who are the reigning Asian Games gold medalists from Hangzhou 2022 and have been named Asia's best men's beach volleyball players for 2026, are expected to play a significant role in Qatar's quest to defend their title and continue their success on the continental stage.
Alkhir and Ihab will also strive to make a significant impact against a competitive field, aiming for a top position among Asia's best beach volleyball pairs.
The beach volleyball competition is set to run through October 3, beginning with preliminary rounds before advancing to the knockout and final stages. Qatar's four pairs aim to deliver compelling performances and contribute to the country's strong record in Asian Games beach volleyball history.