Amna wins taekwondo gold as UAE make strong start at 4th GCC Games in Doha

The UAE made a spectacular start at the 4th GCC Games Doha 2026, opening their medal account on the very first day of competition on Wednesday.

The UAE athletes excelled in taekwondo, securing two medals—a glittering gold and a hard-fought bronze—setting an inspiring tone for the rest of the Games.

The fourth edition of GCC Games, which commenced on Tuesday with a spectacular opening ceremony, will continue until May 22, showcasing the region’s finest athletic talent. The UAE’s strong start, highlighted by early success in taekwondo, reflects not only the preparedness but also the ambition and determination of its athletes at this premier Gulf sporting event.

UAE national team athlete Amna Al Loughani won the gold medal and first place in the women’s under -67kg category, delivering a strong performance and impressive technical display that secured her place at the top of the podium and raised the UAE flag high. Amna expressed her delight at the achievement, noting the high level of competition among the athletes.

She said: “First of all, praise be to God. I am very happy to have won the gold medal and raised the UAE flag in Doha. The competition was strong, but, thankfully, the great efforts we made over the past period have translated into this honourable achievement.”

She added: “I thank the technical, administrative and medical teams, as well as the UAE Olympic Committee and everyone who supported us. I dedicate this achievement to our wise leadership, and the best is yet to come as we aim to achieve further success in the name of the UAE, God willing.”

UAE national team athlete Shouq Al Hammadi further strengthened the nation’s impressive start at the Games by securing a bronze medal in the under-49kg taekwondo category. Her achievement marks the UAE’s second medal of the tournament and underscores the country’s strong presence and competitive edge in taekwondo on opening day of competitions.

Following the medal ceremony, Hammadi said, “Thanks God for winning the bronze medal. The competition was very strong, and all athletes delivered a high level of performance. I am happy to have achieved this result in the name of the UAE, and, God willing, this will be the beginning of even better results at upcoming events.”

She added: “I thank the UAE Olympic Committee for its continued support of athletes, as well as the coaches and the administrative and medical teams. I dedicate this achievement to our beloved country and our dear leadership.”

The UAE is represented at the Games by 164 athletes who will compete across 17 individual and team sports. The national contingent features 115 men and 49 women.

The delegation is aiming to continue delivering positive results and add to the UAE’s medal tally at the Games. On Tuesday, the opening ceremony was held at Al Shaqab Indoor Arena in Doha and featured an artistic show with several segments reflecting Qatari and Gulf heritage, alongside an operetta titled ‘One Gulf... One Heart.’

The UAE flag was carried during the opening ceremony by Sheikh Ali Jamal Bin Nasser Al Nuaimi, a member of the UAE equestrian team, and Shouq Al Hammadi, a member of the UAE taekwondo team.

The UAE is competing across a wide range of sports, including table tennis, equestrian, swimming, bowling, billiards, boxing, fencing, shooting, 3x3 basketball, taekwondo, athletics, handball, snooker, volleyball, archery, padel tennis, and karate.

The GCC Games began in 2011 in Bahrain with six countries and nearly 1,500 athletes across 11 sports, where the UAE finished fourth with 26 medals (5 gold, 10 silver, 11 bronze).

The UAE’s best performance came at the 2015 edition in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, finishing second with 73 medals (26 gold, 20 silver, 27 bronze).

In 2022, Kuwait hosted the third edition with six countries competing in 16 sports, and the UAE claimed third place with 50 medals (18 gold, 16 silver, 16 bronze).

At the ongoing Games, the UAE volleyball team will begin its campaign against Qatar on 16 May, before taking on Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and concluding against Oman on 22 May in a single round-robin format.