By Liu Xianglin, Huao Sports, Haiyang, Shandong, June 22 (Reporter: Liu Xianglin) The 7-day 3rd Asian Beach Games concluded today in Haiyang, Shandong. The Chinese delegation finished atop the medal table with 14 golds, 10 silvers, and 11 bronzes, while Thailand came in second with 13 golds, 9 silvers, and 7 bronzes.
South Korea and Indonesia each won 6 golds, ranking third and fourth respectively. The Chinese Taipei team secured fifth place on the medal table thanks to 3 golds in the road roller skating events.
The Asian Beach Games, along with the Asian Games, Asian Winter Games, Asian Indoor Games, and Asian Youth Games, are known as the five major comprehensive sports events in Asia. The Asian Beach Games are held every two years, and this edition in Haiyang saw the participation of 1,601 athletes from 45 countries and regions.
A total of 13 sports and 49 events were contested in this edition of the Asian Beach Games, including beach volleyball, beach kabaddi, beach handball, beach soccer, beach sepak takraw, beach kho kho, dragon boat, powered paragliding, road roller skating, climbing, windsurfing, and water skiing. Among these, climbing and roller skating made their debuts as Asian Beach Games events.
After seven days of intense competition, China excelled in climbing, road roller skating, dragon boat, windsurfing, beach handball, powered paragliding, and water skiing, finishing first in both the gold medal and overall medal standings with 14 golds, 10 silvers, and 11 bronzes.
In the newly added climbing and road roller skating events, East Asian countries and regions showed strong dominance. In climbing, China and South Korea each won 3 gold medals; in road roller skating, South Korea and Chinese Taipei each claimed three golds, while China took home two.
Additionally, in the traditionally distinctive dragon boat events, Indonesia emerged as the biggest winner with 4 golds, while China secured 2. In the highly entertaining water skiing events, China won three small-event titles, and Thailand claimed one gold.
The 4th Asian Beach Games will be held in 2014 in Phuket, Thailand. (End)