Pormal nang ibinigay ng Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) ang hosting rights ng 7th Asian Beach Games sa Pilipinas, partikular sa Cebu City sa March 2028.
Nagpirmahan nitong Lunes sa Sanya, China, kung saan kasalukuyang ginaganap ang 6th edition, sina OCA President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani ng Qatar at Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham Tolentino.
“We would like to congratulate the Philippines for hosting of the 7th Asian Beach Games in 2028, in Cebu. Wishing you a pleasant stay in Sanya,” ani OCA president sa kanyang speech.
Para kay Tolentino, panahon na para mag-host muli ang Pilipinas ng malaking Asian event matapos ang 1954 Manila Asian Games.
“My colleagues in OCA in the Asian continent, it’s been a while since we are not able to host an Asian event,” ani Tolentino.
“That’s why we are very excited in this next edition of the Asian Beach Games so we can showcase our hospitality, friendship, culture and the beauty of Cebu City. We are very, very excited because this is part of our sports tourism and tourism.”
Balak ng POC na 24 sports ang gaganapin sa 7th Asian Beach Games.
Samantala, na-sweep ng Gilas Women’s 3×3 ang Group C preliminary matapos talunin ang Kyrgyzstan, 21-15, para sa 3-0 kartada na nagdala sa Pilipinas sa knockout round.
Pasok din sa susunod na round ang men’s team kahit pa natalo sa Iran, 14-21.
Hindi naman pinalad na umusad mula quarterfinals ang dalawang women’s beach volleyball team ng Pilipinas na binubuo nina Khylem Progella-Sofia Pagara at Sunnie Villapando-Grydelle Matibag.
Parehong straight sets ang pagkatalo nina Progella-Pagara kina W. Kongphopsarutawadee at Taravadee Naraphornrapat ng Thailand at nina Villapando-Matibag sa magkapatid na Ren at Non Mataumoto ng Japan.