Kuwait targets strong showing as Asian Beach Games get underway

A Kuwaiti delegation for the games.

SANYA, China, April 21: The 6th Asian Beach Games officially begin today, Wednesday, in the Chinese city of Sanya, with the event running until April 30 and featuring 45 Asian nations competing across 14 sports and 62 disciplines.

Kuwait is represented by a 15-athlete delegation, featuring both men and women selected to compete in five disciplines: aquathlon, teqball, climbing, sailing, and jiu-jitsu.

The Kuwaiti delegation arrived in Sanya after an overland journey via Qatar, before joining a special flight carrying Gulf delegations to the host city.

The team is headed by Kuwait Olympic Committee Assistant Secretary-General Captain Ali Al-Mari, with Dr. Hussein Al-Saeed serving as deputy head of delegation. The administrative staff includes Mohammed Atef, Abdulaziz Al-Mutawa, and Mohammed Al-Salameen, as well as physiotherapists Alreem Al-Rashidi and Adhari Al-Rashidi. The athletes are: Ali Ashkanani, Fahd Al-Marzouqi, Sayed Ahmed Behbehani, Sara Al-Ajmi, Hamad Al-Masoud, Abdulaziz Al-Mansour, Ali Anki, Zakaria Bouhamad, Nasser Bouarqib, Suleiman Al-Ibrahim, Hessa Al-Failakawi, Shahd Al-Mansour, Abdulaziz Al-Huwaidi, Mohammed Khalaf, and Youssef Al-Dosari.

Kuwait’s delegation also took part in the team leaders’ meeting, where Ali Al-Mari reviewed key organizational and technical matters to ensure optimal preparation for the competition.

Al-Mari stressed that Kuwait’s participation is an important step in strengthening its presence in continental competitions, noting that the appearance comes despite challenging circumstances and reflects the country’s continued commitment to Asian sporting events.

He added that competing at this level offers valuable experience against Asia’s top athletes, contributing to the development of performance standards and long-term sporting growth in Kuwait.

Teqball athlete Salman Al-Ibrahim confirmed that training began immediately upon arrival in Sanya, with all athletes aiming for strong performances and competitive results across their events.

All Kuwaiti teams have now begun daily training sessions as schedules and venues have been finalized ahead of competition.

Organizers confirmed full readiness for the Games, the continent’s leading beach sports event, with the opening ceremony set for the Tianya Haijiao Sunset Rock Theater under the theme “Meet with the Sea and Sky.” The ceremony will feature three artistic segments showcasing Asia’s cultural diversity and identity.

Advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, will be used to deliver a visually immersive experience blending real and virtual elements, highlighting the harmony between humans and nature.

The Asian Beach Games, organized by the Olympic Council of Asia, were first held in Bali in 2008, followed by Muscat (2010), Haiyang (2012), Phuket (2014), and Da Nang (2016). This edition marks the event’s return after a 10-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.