All Things Asia -- Beach Games Update; Short-Course Swimming Champs; Qatar 2022

Asian Beach Games Wind Down

Thailand sits comfortably atop the medal tally in Muscat heading into the final day of competition at the Asian Beach Games.

The eastern powerhouse extended its lead Wednesday over second-place China with gold in women’s 3-on-3 sepaktakraw, open jetski and men’s wakeboarding.

Two wakeboarding silver and a jetski bronze put Thailand at 29 total medals. China has 19, and host country Oman rounds out the top three with 13.

The sultanate will try Thursday to defend its lone medal of the inaugural ABG when its beach soccer team meets United Arab Emirates in the gold medal match.

Oman also has bronze medal matches in handball and volleyball Thursday as well as two athletes slated to compete in men’s triathlon.

A total of 32 medals will be up for grabs on the final day of the Games.

Also this week in Oman, Prince Albert II of Monaco toured Al-Musannah Sports City and met with Games organizers, the latest such visit by an IOC member.

IOC president Jacques Rogge, VP Thomas Bach, ANOC secretary general Gunilla Lindberg and Olympic Council of Asia president Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah were among the Olympic movers and shakers to attend last Wednesday’s opening ceremony.

Spain Golden At Short-Course Swimming Champs

Swimmers from 153 countries are off to the races this week in Dubai.

FINA’s short-course world championships kicked off Wednesday with 15 medals up for grabs.

Mireia Belmonte Garcia won Spain’s first-ever gold in these WC in women’s 200m butterfly final, then struck gold again in the 400m IM.

Spain tops the gold medal tally as Garcia outshined the field on a day bookended by record-setting swims.

In Wednesday’s first final, U.S. sprinter Ryan Lochte set a new championship record en route to gold in men’s 200m free.

In the final race of the day, China set the first world record of the yearin women’s 4x200m free relay, its last of three medals on the day.

Later that night, International Equestrian Federation president and IOC member from UAEPrincess Haya bint Al Hussein as well asCrown Prince of Dubai Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum were the guests of honor at the opening ceremony.

Events run through Sunday at the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Sports Complex.

Bidding Consultant Lauds Qatar 2022, Rips Disbelievers

Sporting events specialist Rushmans credits Qatar’s unlikely World Cup win to teamwork, humility and a willingness to think outside the box.

"Qatar's success was a triumph for the nation and the fruit not of a single campaign but of 30 years of promoting and investing in sports," founder Nigel Rushman wrote Wednesday on hiscompany’s website.

"But it was also a triumph for the mindset and cultural flexibility which I believe will be the hallmark of international sport in the years ahead."

Rushman, also a strategic advisor to the Qatar 2022 bid committee, denounced the disbelief that seemed to emanate from rival bids USA, Australia, Japan and South Korea.

"What right has a nation with a tiny indigenous population have to follow in the footsteps of the traditional giants of the game as hosts of the World Cup?" he asked.

"Well, as in every walk of life, little is granted as a matter of right. Opportunities have to be earned and Qatar's bid earned the Gulf peninsula its shot at making history."

Rushman then cited tennis’ ExxonMobil Open, the 2006 Asian Games and next month’s AFC Asian Cup as examples of the Gulf state’s hosting resume.

"Qatar's national focus on sport is not new," he wrote.

"It stems from a decision in the late 1970s to make sports and sports events part of the national psyche. For the last 30 years Qatar has been creating a sporting infrastructure and culture which is the envy of most of the world."

Rushman’s UK-based consultancy has helped plan the Rugby World Cup, Asian Games and FIFA World Club Championships.

Written by Matthew Grayson.