Sanya, China, April 24 (QNA) - The Qatari men's beach volleyball teams have qualified for the Round of 16 at the Sanya 2026 Asian Beach Games, after securing two more victories today in the final matches of the second round of the preliminary stage.

The first team, comprised of Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan, defeated Uzbekistan in straight sets (21-14, 21-9).

The second team, consisting of Mohamed Ehab and Moussa Al-Khair, continued their winning streak with a straight-sets victory over Macau (21-10, 21-5).

This qualification comes as a continuation of the strong start both teams made in the first round. The first team defeated the Maldives in their opening match in straight sets (21-6, 21-10), while the second team also triumphed over Saudi Arabia in straight sets (21-17, 21-15).

Having secured qualification, both teams now await the third and final round of matches scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, to determine the group winners and their opponents in the Round of 16, which takes place on Sunday. The first team will face Iran, while the second team will have a tough match against the host team, China.

Meanwhile, the women's teams suffered defeats in their first-round matches. The second team, comprised of Malak Hashim and Nelly Shalabi, lost to South Korea in straight sets, while the first team, consisting of Haya Abu Issa and Laila Mohammed, lost to Sri Lanka by the same score.

The draw for the tournament placed the Qatari men's national team in Group B alongside the Maldives, Uzbekistan, and Iran, while the Qatari team was drawn into Group A with Saudi Arabia, Macau, and China.

The Qatari duo of Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan are among the world's top players, having achieved numerous notable accomplishments, most prominently a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, in addition to their impressive performances in international tournaments.

Meanwhile, the Qatari beach handball team solidified their lead in its group after securing a well-deserved 2-0 victory over Jordan (22-18, 18-16) in its fifth match of the preliminary round.

With this win, the team raised their points tally to 10 from five consecutive victories, a strong start that reflects its consistent performance and ability to impose its style on all its opponents in the preliminary round.

The national team secured two victories yesterday, Thursday, against Bangladesh and Mongolia, both with a score of 2-0. This followed their opening two wins against Pakistan and Oman, continuing their winning streak in one of the tournament's toughest groups.

The Qatari team conclude their first-round matches against Thailand on Sunday, before facing the Maldives next Monday, aiming to maintain its lead in the group and qualify for the semifinals.

Meanwhile, the Qatari men's 3x3 basketball team begin their campaign tomorrow, Saturday, against Bahrain, followed by a match against Kazakhstan later that same day. These two matches represent an early test of the team's ability to make a strong start in the tournament.

The women's team also begin their participation with a tough match against China on Sunday, a challenging encounter against one of the tournament's top contenders. They will then face Kazakhstan next Monday in their second first-round match.

In individual competitions, Qatari jujitsu player Ahmed Al Qardaghi was eliminated after losing to Jordan's Alaa Al-Din Al Khazai in the round of 16 of the men's 77 kg weight class.

Al Qardaghi's participation was aimed at gaining experience and competing against some of the continent's top athletes. He delivered a strong performance, reflecting the development of Qatari jujitsu, and benefited from his previous training period. This marks an important step in his journey towards achieving better results in future competitions. (QNA)