Tokyo, September 19 (QNA) – Qatar’s beach volleyball teams will launch their campaign on Sunday, at the 20th Asian Games, “Aichi-Nagoya 2026”, with four teams competing in the men’s and women’s events, as they strive to maintain their strong presence on the continental stage, deliver positive results and challenge for the top positions at the Asian sporting event.

Qatar 1, featuring Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan, will open its campaign in Group A alongside Oman’s Mazen and Hood and the Philippines’ Abdilla and Francisco.

Qatar 2, featuring Mousa Alkhir and Mohamed Ihab, will compete in Group D alongside Thailand’s Puravide and Pithak, Sri Lanka’s Sadun and Dileepa, and South Korea’s Sangbin and Jongtaek.

In the women’s competition, Qatar 1’s Malak Mohammed and Laila Mohammed will compete in Group F alongside Japan’s Sakura and Sawami and Kazakhstan’s Karimova and Ryukhova.

Qatar 2’s Haya Abu Eissa and Shaghaf Amin will compete in Group H alongside Hong Kong’s Tsang and Wong, Thailand’s Salinda and Patcharaporn, and Sri Lanka’s Kasuni and Chathurika.

Qatar’s campaign gets underway Sunday, with Qatar 1’s Malak Mohammed and Laila Mohammed facing Japan’s Sakura and Sawami in the opening match of Group F.

Qatar 2’s Haya Abu Eissa and Shaghaf Amin will take the court Monday against Thailand’s Salinda and Patcharaporn in Group H.

In the men’s competition, Qatar 1’s Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan will face the Philippines’Abdilla and Francisco on Monday, while Qatar 2’s Mousa Alkhir and Mohamed Ihab will square off against South Korea’s Sangbin and Jongtaek in the opening round of Group D.

The Qatari teams arrived in Japan on Sept. 8 and held a preparatory camp featuring daily training sessions and friendly matches as they fine-tuned their physical and technical readiness for the Asian Games and adjusted to the conditions and competition venues.

Younousse and Tijan bring added weight to Qatar’s campaign. The reigning Asian Games gold medalists from Hangzhou 2022 were also named Asia’s best men’s beach volleyball players for 2026. The duo will look to defend its title and extend its run at the top of the continental stage.

Alkhir and Ihab, meanwhile, will look to make their mark against a field featuring some of Asia’s top beach volleyball pairs and contend for a place among the leading teams.

The beach volleyball competition runs through Oct. 3, beginning with the preliminary rounds before moving into the knockout and final stages. Qatar will field four pairs across the men’s and women’s events.

Team Qatar enters the competition looking to build on its record on the Asian stage, with its four pairs aiming to deliver strong performances and add another chapter to the country’s Asian Games beach volleyball record. (QNA)