By Nick Butler at the Dusit D2 Resort Hotel in Phuket

OCA official Wei Jizhong (right) has reminded all NOCs of the importance of the Asian Beach Games ©Phuket 2014Participating National Olympic Committees have been reminded to respect the "Asian Beach Games concept" following several late withdrawals on the eve of the Phuket 2014 Opening Ceremony here tomorrow.


Speaking at a meeting of Chef de Missions from all the participating nations, Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) technical chairman Wei Jizhong expressed particular concern over the abrupt withdrawal of athletes from sports including beach soccer and kabaddi.

This followed the decision yesterday to scrap two athletics events, the women's 4x60 metres relay and the high jump, because less than four NOCs had entered each event. 

"Mr Wei has asked all participating nations to realise the importance of the Games as well as keep the competition's concept and intention," explained Thailand's deputy Chef de Mission Supit Samahito afterwards. 

"It's just because this is the Games of harmony and for the unity of all Asian members.

"The OCA have hosted these Games to give those athletes who could not compete in the Asian Games a stage for them to show their performances and an opportunity to gather.

"Without realisation from the athletes, these Games cannot be held."

But despite the teething problems, the atmosphere is building here as NOCs, together with many leading officials from the Olympic Movement, arrive in the holiday resort, where hot and humid conditions will add to both the challenge and the spectacle.

Despite the fact the Opening Ceremony does not take place until tomorrow, today has also seen the second day of sporting action, with the host nation opening their gold medal account with a double success in ju-jitsu. 

Thailand won two ju-jitsu titles to open the host nation's gold medal account on the second day of sporting action here ©Phuket 2014Thailand won two ju-jitsu titles to open the host nation's gold medal account on the second day of sporting action here ©Phuket 2014





Suphawadee Kaeosrasaen and Kunsatri Kumsroi overcame Pakistan's Sundus Salam Khan and Maryam 36-33 in the women's martial art duo final before Areewan Chansri and Ratcharat Yimprai triumphed in the corresponding mixed event.

They were comfortable 39-34 winners over another Pakistani duo, Muhammad Ammar and Sundus Salam Khan.

There was also gold medal success for Faisal Alketbi of United Arab Emirates in the men's open division, for Maybelline Masuda and Annie Ramirez of the Philippines in the respective women's under 50kg and women's under 60kg categories, and for Buyandelger Battsogt of Mongolia in the women's over 60kg competition.

After their four gold medals in sambo yesterday, as well as a further one in ju-jitsu, Mongolia top the early medals table ahead of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, with Thailand fourth.

But it was Kazakhstan who captured the final gold medal of the sambo competition, with the central Asian nation overcoming Turkmenistan 3-2 in the mixed final.

Mongolia and Uzbekistan shared the bronze medal.

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