15 teams will take part in the competition, to happen in Haiyang (China) from June 16th to 21st
The Official Draw for the 3rd Asian Beach Games was held this morning at the International Conference Centre, splitting the participating teams into four different groups. The ceremony was attended by Gao Jingtao, Deputy Mayor of Haiyang Municipal Government, along with other dignitaries.
Fifteen teams have entered the popular beach soccer tournament, which will take place at Zone D of Fengxiang Beach, in front of the OCA HQ hotel, and run from June 16-21. The draw was conducted by Technical Delegate Alex Soriano, Head of Communications and TV for Beach Soccer Worldwide.
The organising committee seeded four teams at the top of each of the four groups, with host country China in Group A and Oman in Group B, United Arab Emirates in Group C and Iran in Group D based on the Asian beach soccer rankings.
Defending ABG champions UAE will meet two Gulf rivals in Group C, with Bahrain and “Athletes from Kuwait” alongside Lebanon.
Group A: China, Vietnam, Palestine, Afghanistan.
Group B: Oman, Syria, Iraq.
Group C: UAE, Bahrain, Lebanon, Independent Olympic Athletes from Kuwait.
Group D: Iran, Japan, Thailand, Qatar.
The competition will follow a round robin group stage, with the two best-ranked sides qualifying for the next round, quarterfinals, when a play-off system begins.
At the 2010 ABG in Muscat, UAE beat host Oman in the final to take the gold medal, winning a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw. Iran beat China 6-1 to take the bronze.
