Despite war at home, Iranian athletes win nine golds for best-ever Asian Beach Games finish

By Mohammad Ali Haqshenas

Iran’s delegation secured third place in the final medal table at the 2026 Asian Beach Games, marking the country’s best-ever performance in the competition’s history.

What made it particularly remarkable is the fact that the athletes brought laurels to the country despite a recent 40-day US-Israeli military aggression that severely disrupted their training and preparation cycles.

The sixth edition of the Asian Beach Games, hosted by the coastal city of Sanya in China’s Hainan province, kicked off on April 22 and concluded on Thursday, April 30.

Originally slated for late 2020 before multiple postponements due to global disruptions, the Games, a premier multi-sport event organized by the Olympic Council of Asia, brought together around 2,000 athletes from over 40 Asian countries.

Competitors battled for podium finishes across 14 diverse disciplines, including beach kabaddi, beach volleyball, surfing, and open water swimming.

Arriving in Sanya with heavy hearts but unshakable resolve, the Iranian contingent, featuring 57 athletes, was named the “Martyrs of the Dena Warship” in memory of over 100 Air Force personnel who were martyred during the 40-day war aboard the Dena frigate.

And, they put up an extraordinary performance to rewrite the country’s record books.

For the first time in the history of the prestigious competition, Iran secured the third spot in the overall medal standings, with 9 gold medals and 1 silver, behind host nation China (22 golds) and Thailand (10 golds), leaving a lasting legacy on the sands of Sanya.

Ahmed Donyamali, Iran’s Minister of Sports, congratulated the athletes for demonstrating grit despite challenging conditions in the wake of the imposed war.

“When an unfair and cowardly war was imposed on our country on the eve of the final preparation stages of the Iranian sports delegation for the Sixth Asian Beach Games, affecting our athletes' readiness, a firm resolve and strong will took shape within the sports community,” Doniamali said in a message on Wednesday.

“Operating as a unified team with the National Olympic Committee, Iran's sports showcased its role in an era of national epic and resistance,” he added.

He said the athletes brought honor and pride to the country with their performances.

Athletics: ‘A throw for the people’

The track and field events provided a powerful opening chapter to Iran's success story. In the shot put, Hassan Ajami delivered a memorable performance, registering a throw of 20.17 meters to clinch the gold medal and the title of champion.

It was Iran's first gold of the 2026 Asian Beach Games, and the emotion was palpable.

“This was the first beach competition of my life,” Ajami said. “If my voice is hoarse, it is hoarse for my people. I only wanted to win gold for my people. Lately, my people have not been feeling well, and I wanted to do something to bring a little joy to their hearts.”

Ajami’s path to the podium was fraught with challenges. “We had difficult conditions; our training was entirely disrupted due to the events happening in my country,” he explained.

“But I put in all my effort, and fortunately, I was able to match the record I had set in competition and win this medal for the people.”

Describing his final, triumphant attempt, Ajami added, “On the last throw, I closed my eyes and said I am throwing this for the people; I am putting my entire being into it… Thank God I was able to win the most colorful medal.”

In other athletic events, Parsa Shadnia finished 6th in the high jump, Amirreza Moeinpour secured 6th place in the 60m dash, and Mojtaba Zahedi placed 10th in the long jump.

Beach wrestling: Absolute dominance

The most significant triumph for the Iranian delegation in Sanya came from the nation’s first sport, where the wrestling team delivered a dominant performance.

The Iranian wrestlers provided a massive boost to their country's overall standing, pulling off a clean sweep. Every single one of Iran’s four representatives won a gold medal.

In the 70kg division, Ali Akbar Zaroudi paved the way. He shut out competitors from Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Kyrgyzstan before securing a definitive 3-0 victory over his Indian rival in the final.

After receiving his gold medal, Zaroudi said, “I dedicate this medal to the people of Iran who stood by their country, and to the martyrs of the Dena Warship and the Minab school.”

Ali Gholami followed suit in the 80kg category with a standout performance marked by multiple falls. He routed opponents from Yemen, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Bahrain, ultimately pinning his Pakistani opponent in the final to claim the top spot on the podium.

The dominance continued in the 90kg weight class, where Amirhossein Kavousi steamrolled through a packed bracket featuring challengers from Sri Lanka, Bahrain, Vietnam, Singapore, and India.

He capped off his run with a flawless $3-0$ win against Pakistan's Muhammad Inam.

In the heavyweight +90kg division, Amirreza Sahraei showed no mercy. He defeated formidable rivals from Syria, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Saudi Arabia, before pinning Bahrain's freestyle wrestling world bronze medalist, Shamil Sharipov, in the semifinals.

He then sealed his gold medal by shutting out host nation China's Da Liu in the final.

Water polo: A flawless campaign

In the water, Iran's beach water polo team executed a flawless campaign to win another gold medal. The squad displayed tactical brilliance and endurance, securing victories against Hong Kong (3-1), South Korea (3-0), Kazakhstan (3-2), Thailand (3-0), and finally edging out China in a tense 3-2 victory to claim the championship.

Head coach Hamid Qodsinejad praised his team's immense dedication. “Thank God we were able to win the gold medal,” he said following the championship victory in Sanya.

“The conditions for participating in these competitions were very difficult, and we came to these games under incredibly harsh circumstances. The boys truly worked hard, and the goal for all of us was the gold medal. We hope that by winning this gold, we have been able to make the people of our country happy,” added the coach.

Beach kabaddi: Undefeated champions

The Iranian national beach kabaddi team added to the gold rush with an impressive, undefeated path to the championship.

During the group stage, the team defeated Pakistan with a score of 38-28, secured a 47-31 victory over Bangladesh, and achieved a dominant 53-30 win against Syria.

Advancing to the semifinal, Iran overcame Sri Lanka by a margin of 42-29. This set the stage for a highly anticipated final against a strong Indian side. Iran triumphed with a decisive 44-31 victory to claim the gold.

Captain Mohammad Malak credited the team's unity and preparation. “Good planning, correct analysis, the hard work of the technical staff, and the empathy and unity prevailing in the team paid off, allowing us to reach the gold medal,” Malak said.

“I dedicate this to the martyrs of the Dena Warship and to Martyr Asghar Rousta, a martyr of this ship. I also thank the people of my city, my family, and my wife who always stood by me in difficult times,” he said.

Beach soccer: Persian Leopards' bicycle kick festival

The national beach soccer team delivered one of the most spectacular performances of the Games, securing their third back-to-back titles in the Games. Having previously won gold at the 2012 and 2014 editions, the team was hungry to return to the top.

After defeating the UAE, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, and Palestine, Iran reached the final against Oman. What followed was a breathtaking exhibition of skill.

The team won against Oman with a resounding 6-2 score. The "Persian Leopards" turned the match into a festival of acrobatic strikes, with five of six goals scored via bicycle kicks.

Player Ali Mirshekari reflected on the bittersweet journey to the podium.

“The matches were held at a high level, and we are happy that, as expected, we were able to win the championship title,” he noted.

“We achieved this success under conditions where we had not practiced for 40 days and were going through very hard times, but despite all this, we reached our goal. I hope these successes continue for Iranian beach soccer. I dedicate this medal to all the martyrs of this land; those who gave their lives so that the flag of Iran remains high."

Beach handball: Historic gold

The beach handball competition saw Iran capture its final gold medal of the Games in dramatic fashion. The team powered through the preliminary round, overpowering the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Bahrain, and China, securing 2-0 results in every single match. In the semifinal, they earned a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Thailand.

The final presented a monumental challenge: a formidable, multinational Qatar squad that had won the championship in the last three editions and boasted numerous Asian and world titles. Undeterred, Iran fought brilliantly to secure a 2-1 victory and the gold medal.

Alireza Pakdel, President of the Handball Federation, issued a statement following the championship.

“This time, at the Asian Beach Games in Sanya, which held special conditions and unique significance for our country due to the aggression of the Zionist-American enemy, the Iranian handball players proudly sang their national anthem and raised the dear flag of Islamic Iran.

“This historic championship was achieved while Iranian beach handball was participating in the Asian Beach Games for the very first time... The brave men of Iranian beach handball, who began their training with exemplary zeal from the very first days of the war to bring pride to their country and people, reaped the rewards of their hard work today. This is a team that will be remembered in history, not just for its historic championship title, but even more so for its exemplary zeal.”

Beach volleyball and other disciplines

While the gold medals grabbed the headlines, other Iranian athletes fought valiantly across the sands and courts of Sanya.

In beach volleyball, Iran's Team A secured four impressive victories but was eliminated after a loss to Oman. However, Iran's Team B carried the torch forward. They defeated Uzbekistan, the Maldives, China, and Lebanon.

In the semifinals, they avenged their compatriots by defeating Oman, advancing to the final. Though they ultimately fell to Qatar, they secured a highly respectable silver medal.

In sport climbing, Reza Alipour advanced to the round of 16 in the individual event before being narrowly defeated by an Indonesian competitor. Milad Alipour and Mohammad Sohrabi finished 18th and 20th, respectively, in the preliminary rounds. In the team event, Reza and Milad Alipour reached the round of 16 but were eliminated after a loss to Kazakhstan.

The 3x3 basketball team put up a strong fight, securing three victories against two losses, but ultimately fell short of advancing to the semifinals. Meanwhile, Iran's representatives in ju-jitsu were unable to secure medals and exited the competition early.

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