Qatar’s Ahmed Tijan (left) in action during the beach volleyball quarter-final against China.
Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s beach volleyball duo of Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan powered into the semi-finals in Sanya with a commanding straight-sets win over China.
The pair secured a 2-0 (21-10, 21-19) victory in the quarter-finals, showcasing composure and resilience. After dominating the opening set, the Qataris were tested in the second, falling behind before rallying to level the score and close out the match with confidence. Their experience and on-court chemistry proved decisive as they advanced to the last four.
They will now face Thailand in today’s semi-final after the latter defeated Indonesia. The clash is expected to be tightly contested, with both sides targeting a place in the final. The other semi-final features Iran against Oman.
Younousse said the team’s steady improvement since the start of the tournament has been key to their progress. He noted that the win over China underlined their ability to handle high-pressure knockout matches and expressed confidence ahead of the next challenge. He also praised Tijan, along with the coaching and support staff, highlighting teamwork as central to their success.
In beach handball, Qatar continued its unbeaten run, defeating the Maldives 2-0 (26-12, 18-16) to finish top of Group B with a perfect record. The team maintained a high level throughout the group stage, registering wins over Pakistan, Oman, Bangladesh, Mongolia, Jordan and Thailand.
Their consistency and depth ensured they emerged as group leaders despite a competitive lineup. Qatar will meet Bahrain in the semi-finals today, while Iran face Thailand in the other last-four encounter.
Meanwhile, Qatar’s men’s 3x3 basketball team advanced to the quarter-finals after edging India 15-12 to top Group C. The team had earlier recorded victories over Bahrain and Kazakhstan, demonstrating strong form and control of the fast-paced format.
Topping the group earned Qatar direct qualification to the quarter-finals, where they will meet the winner of the match between Iran and Hong Kong.
In the women’s event, Qatar progressed to the second round after finishing third in Group A and will take on Singapore next.
China leads the medal standings with 30 medals (14 gold, 11 silver, 5 bronze), ahead of Thailand with 15 (7 gold, 5 silver, 3 bronze) and the Philippines with 7 (3 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze).
