The UAE has achieved its best-ever performance at the Asian Games, finishing 13th overall among 45 nations and securing a record seven gold medals. This historic achievement was celebrated by His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Olympic Committee, who praised the dedication of the athletes and support teams during the Games held in Aichi–Nagoya from September 19 to October 4.
The UAE’s medal tally included a total of 13 medals: seven gold, five silver, and one bronze, marking a significant improvement from previous editions of the Games. Sheikh Mansoor emphasized that this success reflects the athletes’ commitment to elevating the UAE’s status in the international sporting arena.
Historic Achievements
Among the standout performances, Sheikha Latifah bint Ahmed bin Juma Al Maktoum earned a silver medal with the UAE show jumping team, bringing her total Asian Games medals to four. This achievement ties her with Malaysia’s Quzandria Nur Mahamad Fathil for the highest medal tally by a female equestrian in Asian Games history.
Sheikh Mansoor also commended the UAE show jumping team for their silver medal in the team competition and recognized Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi for his individual silver medal on the final day of the event.
Mariam Kareem Shines
Another highlight was Mariam Kareem’s gold medal victory in the women’s 400m hurdles, where she set a new Asian Games record with a time of 54.31 seconds. This performance not only earned her gold but also established a new Asian U20 record, marking the second-fastest time ever recorded at the world U20 level.
Sheikh Mansoor praised Kareem’s resilience, noting her earlier participation in the mixed 4x400m relay team, which narrowly missed out on a medal.
Record Medal Haul
The UAE’s seven gold medals surpassed the previous record of five golds achieved at the Hangzhou Games. The gold medallists included:
- Mariam Kareem (women’s 400m hurdles)
- Kazbek Naguchev (men’s under-73kg judo)
- Balqees Abdulla (jiu-jitsu)
- Khaled Al Shehhi (jiu-jitsu)
- Ahmed Andeez (jiu-jitsu)
- Mahdi Al Awlaqi (jiu-jitsu)
- Asma Al Hosani (jiu-jitsu)
Silver medallists included Suleiman Abdulrahman (athletics), Al Anoud Al Harbi (jiu-jitsu), and Omar Al Suwaidi (jiu-jitsu), while the UAE show jumping team secured a silver medal, and Ammar Al Hosani added a bronze in jiu-jitsu.
Strong UAE Participation
The UAE delegation at the 20th Asian Games comprised 165 athletes, including 117 men and 48 women, competing across various sports. Notably, the modern pentathlon and padel teams made their Asian Games debuts this year.
The Games featured over 11,000 athletes, approximately 6,000 coaches and officials, and included 43 sports, 71 disciplines, and 469 events, showcasing the UAE’s growing prominence in the region’s sporting landscape. According to Emirates247, this performance is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the UAE’s athletes and support teams.
