UAE targets strong impact at Asian Beach Games in Sanya
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The UAE is participating in the sixth edition of the Asian Beach Games, which will be hosted by the Chinese city of Sanya from April 22 to April 30 of this year, with a delegation of 31 male and female athletes competing in four sports: jiu-jitsu, sailing, beach soccer, and open water swimming.
China is hosting the Asian Beach Games for the second time, after the Haiyang edition in 2012. The sixth edition in Sanya will see the participation of 1,790 male and female athletes representing 45 Asian Olympic committees. They will compete in 14 sports, 15 disciplines, and 61 different events.
The opening and closing ceremonies will also be held at the Ring Theatre in the Asian Beach Games Park, located in the scenic Tianya Haijiao area.
The first group of the UAE Olympic Committee delegation arrived in Sanya on Wednesday evening to review the various preparations for the arrival of the national sports delegation, which will begin its participation in the tournament through the UAE beach soccer team in Group 2 alongside Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Iran.
UAE medals in the Asian Beach Games
The UAE has won 28 medals across all its participations in the Asian Beach Games, consisting of 11 gold medals, 8 silver medals, and 9 bronze medals, since the first edition held in Bali in 2008.
The UAE has not missed any edition of this event since its inception. The Phuket 2014 edition is considered the most successful in the country’s history, as it saw the UAE win 12 medals.
The fifth edition in Da Nang in 2016 also witnessed a historic achievement when Wedeema Al Yafei, a member of the jiu-jitsu national team, won a bronze medal, becoming the first Emirati woman to reach the podium in the history of the Asian Beach Games.
For his part, Faris Mohammed Al Mutawa, Secretary-General of the UAE Olympic Committee, emphasized the importance of doubling efforts and intensifying preparations to ensure a strong performance in this important continental event, where UAE athletes have traditionally achieved podium finishes and strong results.
He also pointed to the ability of the participating UAE delegation to continue its proud record in this edition and further build on its achievements since its debut participation in Bali in 2008.
The UAE aims to leave its mark at the Asian Beach Games
Al Mutawa praised the vision and guidance of Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Olympic Committee, as well as the follow up of Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports and Vice President of the UAE Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Executive Office. He highlighted their role in providing all forms of support for the participation of national delegations in international sporting events, where the name of the UAE is prominently represented, helping leave a positive impact on every occasion. He also noted that this reflects the advanced level of the country’s Olympic movement and its ongoing development.
The jiu-jitsu team is set to arrive on Saturday, followed by the sailing team and the beach soccer team on Sunday, while the rest of the delegation will be completed with the arrival of the swimming team next Monday.
History of the Asian Beach Games
The Asian Beach Games began in 2008 in Bali, Indonesia. The second edition was held in Muscat in 2010, the third in Haiyang, China in 2012, the fourth in Phuket, Thailand in 2014, and the fifth in Da Nang, Vietnam in 2016, leading up to the sixth edition scheduled in Sanya.