Sanya, China, April 22, 2026: The 6th Asian Beach Games made a splash in Sanya as beach water polo made its much-awaited debut. Ditching the traditional pool for the salt and sun, this four-on-four format proved that a single misplaced throw or a second of hesitation can flip the script.
And it almost did before Kazakhstan beat Thailand 3-2 in a match that went down to the wire, while hosts China, after a hiccup in the first set, losing that 2-1, staged a ferocious fight back in the remaining three sets to a comprehensive 3-1 victory over Hong Kong, China.
Thailand, steady through the sets, despite losing 6-3 in the first set to the Kazakhs, made a series of unforced errors in the fourth set to lose a match they should have pocketed.
Eventually, it was Aida Alpysbay, the Kazakh captain, who found the equaliser in the fourth set with a powerful throw which skipped and went into goal off the Thai goalkeeper Sreede’s flailing hands.
In the penalty shoot-out, the Kazakhs held their nerve to carve out a victory. Thailand, though disappointed, would still take heart from their display that they could take one of the continental powerhouses the full distance.
Post-match, Alpysbay admitted the transition from indoor training to the intense sun was a challenge but praised the Thai squad’s “remarkable” resilience.
Hosts China opened their account with a 3-1 victory over Hong Kong, China, though it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Hong Kong showed serious grit early on, snatching the first set via a Ho Cheuk Kiu golden goal.
That wake-up call sparked a ferocious Chinese comeback. Utilizing superior physicality and slick wing play, the hosts turned the match into a clinic with a no-look beauty from captain Xie Linshan. By the fourth set, Hong Kong’s defense had evaporated to the point where the Chinese goalkeeper even managed to float in a long-range goal, ending the set 6-1.
After the first day, China topped the standings with three points, followed by Kazakhstan with two points. Thailand has one point, and Hong Kong, China will aim for its first point facing Kazakhstan on Thursday.
The historic debut gold medal will be awarded on Friday based on the standings after the four-team round-robin competition.
