Qatar Beach Volleyball Teams Begin Asian Championship Campaign in China

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September 2, 2026
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2-September-2026

Qatar Beach Volleyball Teams Begin Asian Championship Campaign in China

Shangluo, China: Qatar’s two beach volleyball teams began their campaigns at the 2026 Asian Beach Volleyball Championship, currently underway in Shangluo, China, and continuing until September 6, with 24 teams from across Asia and Oceania taking part.

Qatar’s Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan made a winning start in Pool B, defeating Malaysia’s Teh and Yong Jian 2–0 (21–8, 21–5). Meanwhile, Mousa Al Khair and Mohammed Ehab Zaki lost their opening Pool F match to China’s Wang and Du Hongjun 2–0 (21–12, 21–12).

Cherif and Tijan will continue their pool-stage campaign against New Zealand’s Sam and Ben O’Dea, before facing Thailand’s Nitithorn and Poravid, as they look to maintain their winning start and secure a place in the knockout rounds.

In Pool F, Al Khair and Ehab will next face Thailand’s Pitak and Watchirawit, before taking on Hong Kong’s Lee and Lee.

The championship features 24 teams divided into six pools of four, with each pool played in a single round-robin format. The top two teams from each pool, along with the two best third-placed teams, will advance directly to the Round of 16. The remaining four third-placed teams will contest playoffs for the final two places in the knockout stage.

The knockout rounds begin on September 4 with the playoffs and Round of 16, followed by the quarterfinals and semifinals on September 5. The bronze-medal match and final will take place on September 6 at the central court of the Shangluo Sports Complex.

Cherif and Tijan enter the championship with an impressive record of achievements, including bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and fourth place at Paris 2024, as well as three Asian titles and two Asian Games gold medals. Most recently, the pair claimed gold at the Sanya 2026 Asian Beach Games in April.

Al Khair and Ehab, meanwhile, arrive in China following a series of strong performances, highlighted by a silver medal in the second and final round of the West Asian Beach Volleyball Championship in Batroun, Lebanon, last month.

The 2026 Asian Beach Volleyball Championship represents an important part of the participating teams’ preparations for upcoming international competitions, including the qualification pathway towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.