HEKINEN, Aichi, Japan— Qatar’s Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan captured the men’s beach volleyball title at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 on Saturday, defeating Indonesia’s Bintang Akbar and Sofyan Rachman in a three-set championship match.

The Qatari pair recovered from an opening-set defeat to prevail 19-21, 21-16, 15-8, completing their Asian Games campaign as champions.

After Indonesia edged the opening set 21-19, Cherif and Ahmed responded strongly in the second, taking control for a 21-16 win to force a deciding set. The Qatar duo carried the momentum into the third, pulling away for a 15-8 victory to secure the championship.

Bintang and Sofyan finished as runners-up after pushing the eventual champions through three sets in the final.

Earlier Saturday, host Japan secured third place as Kota Kurosawa and Taito Mizumachi defeated Thailand’s Poravid Taovato and Pithak Tipjan 2-1.

Kurosawa and Mizumachi took the opening set 21-18 before Taovato and Tipjan responded with a 21-17 win in the second. The Japanese pair then prevailed 15-12 in the deciding set to complete a 21-18, 17-21, 15-12 victory.

With the results, Qatar finished as men’s beach volleyball champions, Indonesia as runners-up and Japan in third place.

Both placement matches going to deciding sets brought a competitive conclusion to the men’s beach volleyball tournament at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026.