"Playing on the sand, barefoot, makes it a natural fit among a variety of beach activities in Sanya. I'd like to watch more of it."

Played on soft, shifting sand rather than a hard, confined indoor court, beach kabaddi strips away the rigid indoor constraints and infuses the age-old sport, which originated in India and enjoys massive popularity in South Asia, with vibrant energy and raw physicality.

The size of the rectangular court is smaller, the matches shorter and the number of players on each team fewer, with the beach version being four-a-side compared to the traditional seven-a-side game played indoors, resulting in a faster and more unpredictable switch between raid and trap.

The uneven sandy surface challenges players' balance, agility and explosive movement, as attackers have to adapt to their unsure footing when raiding the opponent's zone, while defenders rely on low, sturdy stances and quick reflexes to tackle.

Less reliant on tactics and rigid formations, which are critical with the indoor version, beach kabaddi instead rewards instinct, encouraging sudden raids and countermoves in a faster-paced, yet safer way.

"In India, everyone knows this sport and everyone plays it. Today, kabaddi has gained worldwide fame, and the beach Games will only make it more popular," India's head coach Rakesh Kumar said after leading the men's team to a 66-23 rout of Chinese Taipei in its opening Group B match on Thursday.

Similar to beach kabaddi in being contested on a smaller court, beach handball adds more unique flair to the sport compared to its indoor counterpart. With dribbling not allowed, players attack by passing and shooting in a rapid-fire fashion, sequences usually capped with acrobatic shots, mostly spin moves, which are awarded with two points, one extra than a regular shot.