UAE strengthen lead at Gulf Youth Games with 231 medals

Adding another feather to their cap, Emirati athletes continued their impressive showing at the first Gulf Youth Games UAE 2024 as they added a record-breaking 37 medals on the twelfth day.

This remarkable feat established a new record for the highest number of medals attained in a single day since the tournament commenced on April 16.

The UAE is currently hosting the inaugural edition of the first-ever Gulf Youth Games, under the theme “Our Gulf is One... Our Youth is Promising.”

Kicked off last month and ending on May 2, this event brings together a remarkable 3,500 young athletes, including males and females, competing in a diverse range of 24 sports disciplines.

In 12 competitions that took place on Saturday, the UAE secured 18 medals in karate, 10 in swimming, four in judo, three in archery, and two in cycling. This splendid performance further solidified their position atop the medal standings. Their overall tally now stands at 231 medals, comprising 73 golds, 86 silvers, and 72 bronzes.

Saudi Arabia also saw an increase in their medal count, reaching 93 in total, with 40 gold, 33 silver, and 20 bronze. Kuwait followed closely behind in third place with 89 medals, including 23 gold, 31 silver, and 35 bronze. Bahrain secured fourth place with 57 medals, boasting 19 gold, 15 silver, and 23 bronze. Qatar advanced to fifth place with 42 medals, consisting of 17 golds, 10 silvers, and 15 bronzes. Oman secured sixth place with 46 medals, comprising 17 gold, 10 silver, and 19 bronze.

On the opening day of the karate competitions, the UAE karate team showcased remarkable prowess, clinching 18 medals and claiming the top spot in the standings.

Their haul comprised five gold, seven silver, and six bronze medals. Kuwait followed closely behind, securing the runner-up position with 10 medals, including three gold, one silver, and six bronze. Saudi Arabia settled for third place with six medals, consisting of two gold, two silver, and two bronze, while Qatar secured fourth place with one bronze medal. The outstanding performances of both UAE boys and girls contributed significantly to their medal tally.

In the women’s individual kumite under 48 kg, UAE’s Malak Al Haj took first place, with her teammate Sheikha Mohammed Johar securing second place and Mona Mohammed Al Qattan of Kuwait taking third.

In the women’s individual kumite under 53 kg, the UAE’s Khadija Al Jasmi and Malak Al Shammari of Kuwait shared second place, while Jana Al Omran of Saudi Arabia and Emirati Shatha Al Noubi tied for third.

UAE’s Mahra Al Balushi emerged victorious in the women’s individual kumite under 59 kg, followed by her compatriot Sheikha Al Ketbi in second place, with Haneen Ahmed Fakher of Kuwait securing third.

Shamma Al Ketbi (UAE) claimed the top spot in the women’s individual kumite under 66 kg, with her teammate Hamda Al Balushi finishing as runner-up, and Zainab Al Kandari of Kuwait taking third.

In the women’s individual kumite over 66 kg, Tulay Abdullah (Kuwait) secured first place, while the UAE’s Sheikha Al-Yafei and Shamma Al-Yafei secured second and third place, respectively.

Saudi Arabia’s Saif Al-Qayed clinched first place in the individual kumite over 76 kg, followed by Yaqoub Abbas (UAE) in second place, and Turki Sami (Kuwait) and Abdullah Al Ali (Qatar) sharing third.

Ali Muhammad Al-Ajmi of Kuwait topped the podium in the youth individual kumite under 55 kg, with Rayan Rashid (Saudi Arabia) in second place and Rashid Al-Saridi and the UAE’s Khalifa Al-Hajjaj sharing third.

UAE’s Rashid Salem claimed first place in the individual kumite under 61 kg, followed by Mahdi Al-Munajim of Saudi Arabia in second, and Fahd Al-Azmi (Kuwait) and Rashid Al-Zarouni (UAE) in third.

Kuwait’s Musa Al-Mutairi dominated the individual kumite under 68 kg event, with Abdullah Hassan Abdullah (UAE) in second and Mubarak Al-Kaabi (UAE) and Saad Al-Saif (Saudi Arabia) sharing third.

Hitting the right targets, the UAE athletes achieved notable success in archery by sealing three gold medals in the team competitions held at the Sharjah Police Club.

The UAE continued their winning streak with another gold medal in the recurve bow U-18 category for females, represented by Alia Saleh Al Ali, Amna Al Hammadi, and Noura Al Mazmi. Once again, the Qatari team claimed the silver medal.

The third gold medal for the UAE came in the recurve bow U-15 for females, featuring the team of Hoda Saleh Al-Ali, Marwa Omar Al-Sarkal, and Arwa Al-Khudaimi. Saudi Arabia secured second place and the silver medal in this category.

The UAE’s judo team made a mark in the competitions held at the Mubadala Arena hall in Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi, as they clinched a total of four medals, including one gold and three silver.