Sherif and Tijan Storm into Semi-Finals, Set Up Thailand Clash at Sanya 2026

alt
April 27, 2026
volleyball
feed type icon
27-April-2026

Sherif and Tijan Storm into Semi-Finals, Set Up Thailand Clash at Sanya 2026

SANYA, China – Qatar’s beach volleyball duo of Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan powered into the semi-finals of the Sanya 2026 Asian Beach Games, after defeating the Chinese pair in straight sets (21-10, 21-19) in their quarter-final encounter on Monday.

The Qatari pair will now face Thailand in Tuesday’s semi-final after the Thai team booked its place with a victory over Indonesia. Sherif and Tijan will be aiming to continue their impressive run and secure a place in the gold-medal match, while the other semi-final will see Iran take on Oman.

Qatar is competing in beach volleyball with four teams, including two men’s and two women’s teams, underlining the nation’s growing presence in the sport across the continent.

In beach handball, Qatar closed out the group stage with another commanding win, defeating the Maldives 2-0 (26-12, 18-16) to finish top of Group B with a perfect record.

The victory extended Qatar’s unbeaten streak after earlier wins over Pakistan, Oman, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Jordan and Thailand, confirming the team’s strong title credentials heading into the knockout rounds.

Qatar will face Bahrain in Tuesday’s semi-final, while Iran meets Thailand in the other last-four contest.

Meanwhile, Qatar’s men’s 3x3 basketball team advanced to the quarter-finals after defeating India 15-12, sealing top spot in Group C.

After opening with victories against Bahrain and Kazakhstan, the Qatari side maintained its flawless campaign and now awaits the winner of the clash between Iran and Hong Kong.

The women’s team also progressed to the next round after finishing third in Group A and will meet Singapore in the round of 16.

Elsewhere, Qatar’s campaign continues on Tuesday in wrestling, with Saad Al Hammadi competing in the 80kg category and Hamad Al Nuaimi in the 70kg division, while in sailing, Tamim Shams and Thani Shams will compete in the final race as they seek to improve their overall standings before the close of competition.