Competition at the 6th Asian Beach Games Sanya 2026 commenced a day ahead of the official opening ceremony, with Sri Lanka beginning its campaign in Beach Handball. Sri Lanka faced the People’s Republic of China in the Men’s Preliminary Round Group ‘A’ encounter, marking the nation’s first appearance at the Games. Sri Lanka was defeated [...]
While the country has been placed under lockdown, making newspaper distribution impossible, the Sunday Times team produced your favourite Sunday newspaper in digital format to bring you the latest news, feature stories and political commentaries. We are happy to announce that we are giving you free access to our digital paper. Click here to access the free epaper . If you like to be a subscriber to our regular epaper please click here .
Sri Lanka is represented at the Games by a contingent including 77 athletes competing across eight sports – Beach Athletics, Beach Kabaddi, Beach Handball, Beach Volleyball, 3×3 Basketball, Open Water Swimming, Beach Wrestling, and Sailing. Several Sri Lankan teams have already arrived in Sanya, including handball, athletics, kabaddi, sailing, and volleyball. Following the start in Beach Handball, Sailing, Beach Kabaddi, and Beach Volleyball competitions commenced on Thursday, followed by Beach Athletics on Friday.
Track and field athlete Lakshika Sugandhi and sailor Haren Dineth Wickramatillake led the national contingent at the ceremony as flag bearers
The remaining contingents in Aquatics (Open Water Swimming), Beach Wrestling, and 3×3 Basketball are yet to depart. Open Water Swimming and 3×3 Basketball events are set to commence today, with Beach Wrestling scheduled to begin on April 28.
The Opening Ceremony of Sanya 2026 took place on April 22 at Yasha Park under the theme ‘A Date with the Sea and the Sky’. Set against a coastal backdrop, the ceremony presented a visually immersive celebration, reflecting the spirit of beach sport and the host city. Team Sri Lanka’s flag was carried by track and field athlete Lakshika Sugandhi and sailor Haren Dineth Wickramatillake, who led the national contingent at the ceremony.
Organised by the Olympic Council of Asia, the Asian Beach Games is a multi-sport event dedicated to beach and coastal disciplines. First held in Bali in 2008, the Games were last staged in Da Nang in 2016 and return in 2026 following a prolonged hiatus.
The Sanya edition has drawn over 10,000 participants from 45 countries and regions and will feature 14 sports, 15 disciplines, and 62 medal events. Competitions are being conducted across multiple venue clusters along the Sanya coastline, highlighting the unique ‘coastal plus urban’ concept of the Games. As competition gathers momentum, Sri Lanka will look to build on its opening appearance, with multiple disciplines set to take centre stage in the days ahead.
By Friday, Sri Lanka claimed its first medal in Women’s Long Jump, with Ishara Samanmali claiming the silver and Shashikala Lankathilake winning the bronze medals. Ishara secured the silver medal with a leap of 5.87m, while Shashikala claimed the bronze medal with 5.83m leap in the Women’s Long Jump.
Ishara Samanmali with her silver medal
Shashikala Lankathilake with her bronze medal
Print Edition – The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka
Loading comments…