Tuesday 21 / April / 2026
MUSCAT: Triathlete Mohammed Al Ghailani and women sprinter Alia Al Mughairi will carry Oman’s flag at the opening ceremony of the sixth Asian Beach Games in Sanya, China, on Wednesday evening, as the continental event returns after nearly a decade since its last edition in 2016.
The Omani delegation at the opening ceremony will be headed by Taha bin Suleiman Al Kishry, Oman Olympic Committee (OOC) board member, at a ceremony featuring 1,970 athletes from 45 countries competing across 14 sports and 61 events.
Al Kishry said Oman’s participation “reflects continued continental presence and the steady development of beach sports in the Sultanate,” adding that the Games represent “a real test of readiness in a highly competitive Asian environment and an opportunity to benchmark performance against leading nations.”
Oman will compete in five sports—beach soccer, beach volleyball, beach handball, athletics, and triathlon (aquathlon)—and enters the competition with a strong record in the event’s history, having won 17 medals, including 6 gold, 4 silver, and 7 bronze.
Al Kishry described the participation as part of “an integrated national sports project” aimed at strengthening long-term athlete development.
“We are focused on honourable representation, achieving the best possible results in sports where we have competitive potential, and using this platform to further develop beach sports and athlete experience,” he said.
Al Kishry also highlighted Oman’s natural advantage in beach sports, noting the country’s coastline as a strong foundation for future growth, and stressed the importance of shifting towards a structured system linking talent identification, coaching development, and domestic competition.
He praised coordination between the Oman Olympic Committee and national federations, saying it has produced “a well-balanced delegation in technical, physical and administrative readiness,” which supports stronger international participation.
Al Kishry urged the athletes to compete with “discipline, confidence, and pride in representing Oman.”
