By Hana Aldayyat
OCA Young Reporter
Sanya, China, April 26, 2026: The Qatari national beach handball team extended their perfect record at the 6th Asian Beach Games with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Thailand on Sunday, April 26 at the Tianya Haijiao Beach Handball Venue.
The victory once again showed why Qatar are the three-time defending champions. They have now won six out of six and lead Group B with 12 points from their perfect 6-0 win-loss record.
The Thais are second on 10 points from five wins and one defeat, followed by Oman on eight points from four wins and two defeats.
Only the top two teams in each group advance to the semi-finals.
Qatar entered this match as the clear favorites to win the group, having dominated every opponent since the tournament began.
The match itself proved to be more competitive than some of Qatar's previous encounters. The first set saw Qatar control the action and outscore Thailand 26-20, using their attacking efficiency and defensive solidity to establish an early lead.
However, the second set was a much closer affair, with Thailand fighting back strongly and pushing the defending champions to their limits. Qatar showed their composure and experience in crucial moments, ultimately winning the second set 22-20 to secure the 2-0 victory.
The match saw strong individual performances, with Qatar's Abdulrazzaq Murad,
Amir Denguir, Anis Zouaoui, and Zarko Markovic all contributing key goals, while Thailand's Sudthawee Prueprak led the scoring effort for his team.
Abdulrazzaq Murad expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance and their continued success. "We started in a great way, played as one team, and followed the coach's instruction. God willing, we continue like this," he said, reflecting the confidence and unity within the Qatari squad as they push forward in their title defense.
By securing a top-two finish in the eight-team Group B, the defending champions have officially advanced to the next round, keeping their dream of a fourth consecutive gold medal very much alive.
With qualification already secured, Qatar will now turn their attention to their final group match against the Maldives on April 27.