Postponement looms for Asian Beach Games 2020
Asian Beach Games 2020, which was to be the only likely international event for a number of Sri Lanka athletes this year, is now set to be postponed. On Friday (10th July) China’s General Assembly of Sports said the only international sports events allowed in the country this year would be trials for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Based on this statement, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) issued a statement indicating that the Games will be rescheduled.
“The Olympic Council of Asia and the Chinese Olympic Committee are in discussion to reschedule the dates of the Sanya Asian Beach Games due to the COVID 19 Pandemic. The three parties have been in constant contact all year regarding the Asian Beach Games in Sanya and are closely monitoring the situation on a daily basis and working together closely to adjust the dates, if required. Once a decision has been made, OCA jointly with Chinese Olympic Committee and the Sanya Asian Beach Organizing Committee will announce the new dates regarding the sixth Asian Beach Games,” said OCA in a statement.
The Games was set to be held from 28 November to 6 December this year in Sanya, China.
Earlier Ceylon Athletics reported that Sri Lanka is set to make its debut in beach athletics at the Asian Beach Games 2020. Accordingly, Athletics Association was set to select two long jumpers and two cross country runners (Male/Female) for the Games.
This event was also set to be the only international athletic event for Sri Lankan athletes this year, as their competition season was scrapped due to the Covid19 pandemic.
In 2016 Sri Lanka participated in the Games with a 40-member contingent. They participated in Beach Kabaddi, Beach Volleyball and several other events and returned with just one Bronze medal. In five editions of the Games , Sri Lanka has only managed to win six Bronze medals.
The Badminton World Federation has also sought more information from China before taking a call on the season-ending World Tour Finals scheduled in Guangzhou from 16-20 Dec.
