On a sun-drenched coast in Sanya, the sixth edition of the Asian Beach Games burst into life with a spectacular showcase of athletic prowess. The host nation, China, wasted no time in stamping its authority on the competition, securing the very first gold medals of the tournament on the opening day.
The spotlight shone brightly on the debut event of the aquathlon, a grueling test of endurance combining a 2.5-kilometer run, a 1-kilometer swim, and a final 2.5-kilometer run. In a remarkable family feat, husband-and-wife duo Fan Junjie and Lin Xinyu both stood atop the podium. Fan clinched the men's title with a time of 28 minutes and 20 seconds, narrowly edging out teammate Teng Yunfeng, who secured the silver. The bronze medal was claimed by Pan Tzu-I, an athlete from the Chinese Taipei team.
Lin Xinyu continued China's golden momentum in the women's race, powering to victory in 31 minutes and 34 seconds. She was followed by Cambodia's Margot Morokot Garabedian with silver, while another Chinese athlete, Lu Meiyi, rounded out the top three with bronze.
China's success story extended beyond the aquathlon. The nation's women's beach handball team launched their campaign with a dominant display, securing two resounding victories. After a brief initial lead by Mongolia, China's young stars—all born in 2008—took control. The trio of Pang Jiaye, Liu Chenmeng, and Li Weiyu ignited a stunning offensive run, leading to a decisive 30-6 win (2-0 in sets). They later overpowered Sri Lanka with scores of 26-8 and 20-6, cementing an unbeaten start in the group stage.
Meanwhile, the jiu-jitsu mats saw a diverse range of winners on the first day. The United Arab Emirates celebrated two gold medals, courtesy of Khaled Al Shehhi in the men's -62kg category and Asma Al Hosani in the women's -52kg. The Philippines also claimed a title, with Alexandria Luz Enriquez defeating an athlete from the Republic of Korea in the women's -63kg final.
In beach kabaddi, the men's competition witnessed an upset as Iran defeated defending champion Pakistan 38-28. Elsewhere, title favorite India's women's team advanced smoothly to the semifinals after a victory against Sri Lanka.
The opening day in Sanya set a thrilling precedent for the 2026 Asian Beach Games, highlighting both established champions and emerging talents from across the continent.
Reference(s):
Team China race to opening golds at Asian Beach Games in Sanya
cgtn.com
