PRESS RELEASE: Sanya 2026 Officially Opens with Sri Lanka Joining Opening Ceremony Parade
Updated Date: 22nd April, 2026
Colombo, 22 April 2026 – The 6th Asian Beach Games Sanya 2026 officially opened this evening in the tropical coastal city of Sanya, China, with a vibrant Opening Ceremony held at the seaside Yasha Park.
Team Sri Lanka proudly participated in the parade of nations, with a total of 49 athletes and 23 officials taking part. The national flag was carried by Lakshika Sugandhi and Haren Dineth Wickramatillake, leading the Sri Lankan contingent onto the international stage.
The 75-minute ceremony, themed “A Date with the Sea and the Sky,” featured three segments titled “Passion of Sea and Sky,” “Dreams of the Deep Blue,” and “Connecting the World,” celebrating ocean culture and the unity of Asia through sport. The Games, which were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, have attracted approximately 10,000 participants from across Asia, including athletes, officials, media, and guests.
Addressing the gathering, President of the Olympic Council of Asia, HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, described the occasion as “the moment Asia has been waiting for,” highlighting the unifying power of sport across the continent’s diverse cultures.
Following Sri Lanka’s opening Beach Handball fixture yesterday, there were no competitions involving Sri Lankan athletes today, with the focus on the Opening Ceremony. Competition resumes tomorrow (23 April), with multiple Sri Lankan teams set to take the field across several sports.
In Beach Handball, Sri Lanka will compete in both Men’s and Women’s Preliminary Round matches at the Tianya Haijiao Venue Cluster, facing Hong Kong, China and the People’s Republic of China respectively.
In Beach Kabaddi, the women’s team will meet India in Group A action, while the men’s team will face Thailand in Group B matches at the Sanya Bay Haiyue Square Venue Cluster.
In Beach Volleyball, Sri Lanka will feature in multiple preliminary round matches across men’s and women’s categories at the Tianya Haijiao Venue Cluster, taking on opponents including the Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, and the People’s Republic of China.
In Sailing, Sri Lankan athletes will begin their opening series races at the Sanya Bay Haihong Square competition area, with Binal Perera (ILCA4 Boys), Sohanya de Mel and Laila Hazari (ILCA4 Girls), and Haren Wickramatillake (Optimist Boys) set to compete.
The Games, scheduled from 22 to 30 April, will feature 14 sports, 15 disciplines, and 62 events, bringing together athletes from 45 countries and regions across Asia.
As the Games officially get underway, Team Sri Lanka now looks ahead to a full day of competition, with athletes set to represent the nation across multiple disciplines.
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