Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed celebrates UAE’s historic Asian Games triumph with medal-winning athletes
The President of the UAE Olympic Committee receives the nation's champions from Aichi–Nagoya, where the Emirates achieved their finest ever performance at the continental competition
His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Olympic Committee, extended a gracious reception to the nation’s exceptional athletes who secured medals at the recently concluded 20th Asian Games in Aichi–Nagoya, Japan. The momentous gathering, convened at the Committee’s distinguished headquarters in Dubai, provided an opportunity to celebrate a remarkable chapter in Emirati sporting achievement.
The UAE’s performance at these Games represents a watershed moment in the nation’s Olympic history. Finishing thirteenth in the overall medal standings whilst claiming second position amongst Arab nations, the UAE has surpassed all previous records with a total haul of thirteen medals, encompassing an unprecedented seven gold medals at this continental event. This extraordinary accomplishment elevates the nation’s cumulative Asian Games medal tally to seventy-three medals since its inaugural participation in Bangkok during 1978.
Addressing the assembled champions, His Highness emphasised that their achievements stand as eloquent testimony to the indomitable spirit of Emirati athletic excellence. He underscored the profound significance of hearing the UAE National Anthem resound seven times, describing these moments as occasions worthy of every dedication and sacrifice undertaken throughout rigorous preparation and competition.
In reflecting upon the broader implications of these sporting successes, His Highness drew upon the wisdom expressed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, noting that each generation possesses the opportunity to inscribe a worthy chapter in the nation’s enduring narrative. Through their devotion and excellence, the medal-winning athletes have contributed substantially to this unfolding story of national achievement.
His Highness accorded particular commendation to several outstanding performers. Mariam Kareem’s triumph in the women’s four-hundred-metre hurdles, completed in fifty-four point thirty-one seconds, established both an Asian Games record and an Asian under-twenty record, alongside the second-fastest time ever recorded in this age category on the global stage. Equestrian Sheikha Latifah bint Ahmed bin Juma Al Maktoum distinguished herself through an illustrious career spanning multiple Games appearances, securing four medals and equalling the highest record for female equestrian achievement in Asian Games history.
The UAE’s national jiu-jitsu team merited particular recognition, having secured eight medals encompassing five gold awards, representing a substantial contribution to the nation’s historic haul. Additional accolades extended to Kazbek Naguchev’s achievement in men’s judo, the UAE show jumping team’s exceptional performance, and the multitude of medals secured across athletics and martial arts disciplines.
The reception proceeded alongside a comprehensive meeting of the UAE Olympic Committee’s Board of Directors, attended by senior officials including Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Vice President of the Committee, and Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports. The assembly reviewed strategic initiatives encompassing forthcoming Youth Olympic Games in Dakar and the Asian Indoor Games scheduled for Riyadh in December.
Source: WAM News Agency