UAE athletics team of determination bag 30 medals at Gulf Youth Games

Gulf Today Report

The UAE national teams continued their brilliance at the first Gulf Youth Games hosted by the UAE until next May 2, under the theme “Our Gulf is One... Our Youth is Promising,” with the participation of 3,500 male and female athletes participating in a diverse array of 24 disciplines.

On the fourth day of the tournament, both male and female UAE national team players showcased their prowess, securing an additional 33 medals. This brought their total count to 118 medals, featuring 39 golds, 47 silvers, and 32 bronzes.

Saudi Arabia surged into second place, accumulating 42 medals in total, including 21 golds, 11 silvers, and 10 bronzes. Kuwait followed closely behind in third place with 48 medals, comprising 11 golds, 19 silvers, and 18 bronzes. Oman sit on fourth spot with 27 medals, boasting 14 golds, 5 silvers, and 8 bronzes, while Bahrain stood in fifth place with 24 medals, including 9 golds, 7 silvers, and 8 bronzes. Qatar rounded off the standings in sixth place with 15 medals, featuring 6 golds, 5 silvers, and 4 bronzes.

The athletics competition, biggest highlight of Gulf Youth Games, Emiratis stamped their authority on the home turf after grabbing 24 medals which includes seven gold, nine silvers, and eight bronzes. This remarkable achievement was fueled by the exceptional performance of both male and female UAE national team athletes during the second day’s competitions held at the Dubai Police Officers Club.

The number of medals won by Saudi Arabian athletes increased to 12, with six gold, three silvers, and three bronzes. Kuwait, on the other hand, won 16 medals, including three gold, eight silver, and five bronze. Oman celebrated six medals, with two gold and four bronzes, while Qatar won five, with three gold and two silvers. Bahrain added two gold and one bronze to their tally.

In one of the standout performances for the UAE, athlete Shouq Hashem achieved a remarkable feat by clinching the gold medal in the hammer throw competition. Hashem claimed the top spot with a distance of 40.38 meters, setting a new national record in the process. He outperformed Kuwait’s Dalal Al-Azmi, who secured second place with a throw of 40.34 meters, and Oman’s Kaltham Khamis, who finished third with a distance of 39.92 meters.

The UAE showcased their dominance in the rapid chess competition for teams held at the Sharjah Cultural Chess Club. They secured four gold medals across the four competitions for males and females in U-14 and U-18 categories.

In the under 18 male competition, the UAE team claimed the top spot with six points, followed by Kuwait in second place with three points, and Oman in third with two points.

Similarly, in the under 14 male competition, the UAE team emerged victorious with six points, with Qatar securing second place with three points, and Kuwait securing third with two  points.

The champions were honored by Fares Mohammed Al-Mutawa, Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee, Nabil Ashour, chairman of the Technical Committee of the tournament, Taryam Matar Taryam, President of the UAE Chess Federation, along with several heads of Gulf federations, delegates and members of the federation’s board of directors.

At the conclusion of the people of determination athletics competitions at the Dubai Police Officers Club, UAE Paralympic team bolstered their medal count to 30, securing an additional 16 medals.

Overall, UAE Paralympic athletes clinched nine gold, 12 silvers, and nine bronzes, showcasing exceptional determination and skill. Saudi Arabia secured second place with six gold medals, while Bahrain claimed third with 10 medals, including four gold, five silvers, and one bronze. Oman followed closely in fourth place with six medals, consisting three golds, one silver, and two bronzes, while Qatar secured two gold medals.

On the first day on Thursday, UAE youth Paralympic team demonstrated extraordinary talent, clinching 14 medals.

Sheikh Rashid Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Vice President of the National Olympic Committee and Chairman of the Supreme Committee for the first Gulf Youth Games, graced the second day’s athletics championship held at the Dubai Police Officers Club. He crowned the winners in the presence of Dr. Mohammed Al Murr, Member of the Board of Directors of the National Olympic Committee and Chairman of the UAE Athletics Federation, as well as Fares Al-Mutawa, Secretary-General of the National Olympic Committee, and several other committee and athletics federation officials.

Sheikh Rashid commended the high level of competition, emphasizing the significance of the tournament in nurturing a promising generation of Gulf athletes.