UAE solidify lead with 286 medals at Gulf Youth Games

After 15 days of thrilling contests and rising stars showcasing their exceptional talents, curtains came down on competitions at the first Gulf Youth Games UAE 2024 on Tuesday.

Spanning across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, and Fujairah, the inaugural edition of Gulf Youth Games held under the theme “Our Gulf is One... Our Youth is Promising.”

The delegations from the GCC countries came here to compete will leave on Wednesday, having garnered significant technical advancements, engaged in intense competitions, and unearthed budding talents primed for future success.

The Gulf Youth Games not only fostered stronger bonds among GCC nations but also emphasized the importance of making these games a regular event, further strengthening sports and athletes in the region.

Before the final push on last day of action, the UAE bolstered their leading position by grabbing 12 more medals, bringing their total to 286. Among these, 93 were gold, 100 silver, and 93 bronze. Saudi Arabia followed in second place with 136 medals, consisting of 52 gold, 52 silver, and 32 bronze. Kuwait maintained their third-place in standings with 116 medals, including 33 gold, 43 silver, and 40 bronze. Qatar claimed fourth place with 72 medals, comprising 29 gold, 18 silver, and 25 bronze. Bahrain secured fifth place with 71 medals, including 24 gold, 19 silver, and 28 bronze. Oman ranked sixth with 58 medals, including 19 gold, 13 silver, and 26 bronze.

The UAE swimming team surged forward, adding six new medals to their collection for a total of 24. Qatar stayed on top with 30 medals and Kuwaiti swimmers bagged 22 medals.

Meanwhile, the UAE’s fencing team made a remarkable start on day one, claiming a total of six medals including two gold.

Salem Al Nuaimi, a bright talent in UAE national team, garnered attention during the billiards competitions. At just 12 years old, he demonstrated his prowess, solidifying himself as a promising champion in the making.

Salem was honored as the youngest player in the tournament, a testament to his skill and potential.

“I’m honored to represent my country,” Salem said after his participation and receiving the youngest player award. “Thank you to the National Olympic Committee and the UAE Billiards and Snooker Federation for giving this opportunity. Huge thanks to my family for their unwavering support.”

The experience was invaluable for Salem. “This participation helped me immensely to improve my skills and level of play,” he shared. “Receiving the Youngest Player Award made me incredibly happy. It’s a huge motivator to keep training hard and achieve even more for my country in the future. I wouldn’t be here without Coach Issa, who constantly encourages me and provides incredible technical guidance during training and competitions.”

Khalid Abdullah Al Hammadi, Vice President of the UAE Billiards and Snooker Federation, emphasized that the billiards tournament successfully met its objectives on all fronts.

Holding the tournament itself was deemed advantageous due to the widespread popularity of the game in the Gulf countries. It provided a platform for young players from the participating nations to enhance their skills through competition.

Reflecting on the UAE billiards team’s performance, which secured 3 bronze medals, Al Hammadi stated, “Our players competed without pressure, as we focus on building for the future. Despite facing older and more experienced opponents, players like Salem Al Nuaimi showcased remarkable talent.”

“Salem is as a promising Emirati champion in the making as he demonstrated exceptional skill in matches against the players of the Saudi Arabian team, who excelled and won gold in the singles and doubles competitions of 9 balls, and Bahrain, who won gold in the singles competition of 8 balls.”

The Gulf Youth Games marked a significant milestone in Emirati sports with the inclusion of 18 male and female referees from the Al Mazrouei family, comprising both juniors and youth, to officiate the badminton competitions.

The UAE Badminton Federation recognized their valuable contribution to the tournament’s success.

These aspiring referees, born between 2009 and 2012, have a passion for officiating badminton matches and the Gulf Youth Games provided them with a fantastic platform to gain experience.