The 6th Asian Beach Games has been postponed for the second time due to the pandemic.
In a recent statement, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) deemed it necessary to move the event following growing concerns over the coronavirus particularly on a potentially more dangerous variant discovered in United Kingdom.
The Games were initially scheduled Nov. 28 to Dec. 6, 2020 in Sanya, China before it was rescheduled to April 2 to 10 this year.
A new date has yet to be announced.
“The OCA Executive Board decision was made after an in-depth discussion between the OCA, the Chinese Olympic Committee and the Sanya Asian Beach Games Organizing Committee,” the OCA said.
More than 2,000 athletes from more than 40 countries are expected to compete in 19 sports with host Sanya, located south of China’s Hainan Island, eyeing venue clusters in four districts.
The country last competed in the 2016 edition held in Danang, Vietnam where the Filipinos went home with two gold medals courtesy of jiu jitsu fighters Meggie Ochoa and Annie Ramirez.
The PH team also bagged four silver and 15 bronze medals.
The Asian Beach Games was one of the major tournaments the national athletes are looking forward to in this year’s busy sports calendar.