In a dramatic, rain-soaked finale, China's women's water polo team etched their name into the history books on Friday, claiming the inaugural gold medal in the sport at the 2026 Sanya Asian Beach Games. The decisive victory came against a determined Kazakhstan team in a thrilling four-set match held in Hainan Province.
Heavy rainfall forced the climactic round-robin contest indoors, where the two undefeated sides clashed with the title on the line. The hosts burst from the gate, securing the first set with a commanding 4-1 score. However, Kazakhstan demonstrated resilience, narrowly edging the second set 4-3 to level the match.
Regrouping after the break, the Chinese squad returned with renewed focus, dominating the third set 4-0 to regain a 2-1 lead. The intensity peaked in a nail-biting fourth set, where both teams fought to a 3-3 stalemate, triggering a sudden-death golden-goal decider. It was Yang Sheng who emerged as the hero, unleashing the winning strike to seal the set and clinch a 3-1 overall victory for China.
The triumph capped a perfect, unbeaten campaign for the hosts in the round-robin competition, securing the first-ever women's water polo gold at the Asian Beach Games. Kazakhstan's valiant effort earned them the silver medal, while Thailand rounded out the podium with bronze.
The 2026 Games in Sanya marked the sixth edition of the continental event and the historic debut of women's water polo, signaling the sport's growing prominence in the dynamic arena of Asian beach sports.
Reference(s):
China claims first women's water polo gold at Sanya Asian Beach Games
cgtn.com
