Sulaiman Abdulrahman Secures Silver as UAE Opens Medal Account at Asian Games Aichi–Nagoya 2026
The UAE's athletics delegation achieved a historic milestone when Sulaiman Abdulrahman claimed silver in the men's 400 metres, with the under-20 athlete finishing just 0.09 seconds behind Thailand's Joshua Atkinson in a thrilling contest.
The United Arab Emirates has opened its medal account at the Asian Games Aichi–Nagoya 2026 with an accomplished performance from national athlete Sulaiman Abdulrahman, who delivered silver in the men’s 400 metres final on 26th September with a time of 44.99 seconds. The exceptionally competitive race saw Thailand’s Joshua Atkinson claim gold in 44.90 seconds, with the margin between first and second place proving remarkably tight at just 0.09 seconds. Emmanuel Bamidele also represented the UAE in the final, recording 45.97 seconds.
The achievement carries particular significance given Abdulrahman’s status as an under-20 athlete. Earlier this year, he demonstrated exceptional promise by winning gold in the 400 metres at the Asian U20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong, clocking 44.85 seconds to establish a championship record and become the first athlete in the history of those championships to break the 45-second barrier.
Major General Dr Mohammed Abdullah Al Murr, President of the UAE Athletics Federation and Member of the Board of Directors of the UAE Olympic Committee, extended congratulations to the UAE leadership and people upon this historic milestone. He remarked that the silver medal carried profound significance given the exceptional standard of competition and the infinitesimal margin separating the medal positions.
Addressing the broader implications of this success, Major General Al Murr emphasised that the federation’s approach of investing in young talent demonstrates a commitment to building a generation capable of competing for medals at continental and international level. He stated that sustained work and continued investment in athletics have yielded these results, with further ambitions to pursue greater achievements in the coming phase.
The UAE Athletics Federation President dedicated the achievement to the nation, its leadership and people, whilst acknowledging Abdulrahman’s individual performance, the technical and administrative teams, and all contributors to this milestone. With important competitions remaining at the Games, the federation expressed confidence in all national team athletes and anticipated further achievements ahead.
The achievement reflects the broader support extended to UAE sport by His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Olympic Committee, and Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Vice President of the UAE Olympic Committee, whose continued attention to national teams provides motivation for pursuing greater competitive success on the continental and international stage.
Source: WAM