The 2026 CMAS Asian Championship Finswimming Indoor Juniors opened at the Hai'an Sports Center in Hai'an, Nantong, Jiangsu province, on Sept 17.

Young athletes compete at the 2026 CMAS Asian Champion Finswimming Indoor Juniors. [Photo/WeChat account: hafbwx]

More than 300 people, including delegates from nine countries and regions, technical officials, media representatives, volunteers, event staff and spectators, attended the opening ceremony.

Competition began immediately after the ceremony. As the starting gun sounded, the athletes plunged into the water and propelled themselves forward with powerful kicks, their fins moving in a dolphin-like motion beneath the surface. Swimmers raced neck and neck across the lanes, with turns, acceleration and final sprints often separated by only fractions of a second.

In events including the 50-meter and 100-meter races on the opening day, the young athletes competed fiercely for top results while challenging Asian and world youth records. Cheers from the stands continued throughout the competition, adding to the excitement at the venue.

The 2026 CMAS Asian Champion Finswimming Indoor Juniors is the first international official sporting event hosted by Hai'an. The event marks the start of Hai'an's efforts to attract more high-level aquatic competitions and build a regional hub for aquatic sports, further raising the county-level city's profile in the field.