Doha, Qatar, October 12, 2019: China’s first victory in the women’s handball tournament at the ANOC World Beach Games on Saturday coincided with a visit to the competition venue by a delegation from the host city of the next Asian Beach Games – Sanya 2020.
Led by the Vice Mayor Zhou Jun, the Sanya team members are checking out the inaugural ANOC World Beach Games to view all aspects of operations and management.
On Saturday morning they visited the impressive Al-Gharafa Sports Club, which is hosting the beach handball and beach volleyball 4x4.
And the Chinese supporters made their presence felt in the grandstand by cheering China to their first victory, 2-0 against Australia in women’s Group B.
China won the first period 15-13 and the second 17-14 to complete a clean sweep and give them their first win after two defeats on the opening day.
China’s team included gold medal-winners from the OCA’s 3rd Asian Beach Games in Haiyang, China in 2012, when they beat Chinese Taipei in the final, and the players rose to the occasion against the Australians.
The ANOC World Beach Games, with over 1,200 athletes from 97 National Olympic Committees, feature 14 disciplines of 13 sports. The official opening ceremony was held on Saturday night and competition will run until October 16.
The ANOC WBG are providing the delegates from Sanya, Hainan province, with first-hand experience and knowledge as they prepare for the OCA’s 6th ABG from November 28 to December 6, 2020. There will be 17 sports at three beach venues in Sanya.
