Sanya, China, April 20, 2026: Three sports of the 14 on the programme may hold the key to victory in the overall medals table at the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya from April 22-30.
Of the 62 gold medals on offer, no fewer than 26 of them will be contested in three sports – beach athletics, sailing and beach wrestling.
Beach athletics will produce 10 gold medals over three days of competition at Phoenix Island, while sailing and beach wrestling will both offer eight gold medals.
So, strong showings in these three sports in particular will go a long way to deciding the final rankings come close of play on April 30.
Dragon boat will be a firm favourite among spectators, with two gold medals on each of the three days of colourful competition on the Sanya River, and jiu-jitsu will also award six gold medals over two days.
As for the team sports, beach handball, beach soccer (men’s competition only), 3x3 basketball and beach volleyball will all be fiercely contested over several days, with the eventual champions having overcome a grueling schedule to emerge victorious at the top of the podium.
The first gold medal will be aquathlon (run-swim-run) - men’s individual - on Thursday, April 23, and the last will be beach handball - men - on Thursday, April 30 – the day of the closing ceremony.
A lot will happen between the opening and closing ceremonies – but dominating performances in beach athletics, sailing and beach wrestling, with a total of 26 gold medals, could prove to be a decisive factor in finding the Sanya superpower.