UAE Climbs to Seventh Place at 3rd Asian Youth Games with Six Medals
Manama, The Gulf Observer: The United Arab Emirates has continued its impressive run at the 3rd Asian Youth Games, boosting its medal tally to six — three gold, one silver, and two bronze — securing seventh place in the overall standings. The prestigious continental event, being held in Bahrain until 31 October, features over 5,000 athletes from 45 countries, with the UAE competing across 19 sports.
A highlight of the UAE’s success came from its mixed martial arts (MMA) team, which secured two medals in traditional MMA competitions. National team standout Salem Al Hammoud clinched the gold medal in the 75 kg category with a decisive victory over Afghanistan’s Ahmad Fayyaz in the final. In the women’s 50 kg category, Ghala Al Hammadi earned a bronze medal after overcoming Kyrgyzstan’s Kubanyshbekova Meryam.
This MMA success reflects the UAE’s growing strength in combat sports and its commitment to nurturing young talent through structured training pathways and world-class support.
Mubarak Saleh Al Menhali, Director of the Technical Department at the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, praised the athletes’ achievements, attributing their success to the nation’s leadership and long-term sports development strategy. “Our athletes’ performance aligned perfectly with our ambitious plans to build a generation capable of competing at both continental and international levels,” he said.
Gold medalist Salem Al Hammoud described the victory as a career-defining moment, stating, “The final was a real test against a strong opponent, but my self-confidence and trust in the coach’s plan gave me the edge.” Bronze medalist Ghala Al Hammadi expressed her determination to pursue gold in future competitions.
In athletics, the UAE national team added four more medals to the tally. Arwa Ali struck gold in the women’s 100m race, while Aisha Mohammed claimed gold in the women’s 400m event. Saeed Omar secured silver in the men’s 400m race, and Mohammed Adel Al Ali earned bronze in the hammer throw with a throw of 62.03 metres.
Arwa Ali also advanced to the final of the women’s 200m event, scheduled for Saturday evening at Bahrain National Stadium, as she seeks to further contribute to the UAE’s growing success.
In Muay Thai, national team athletes Aya Al Ishari (48 kg) and Issam Khalil (57 kg) advanced to the semi-finals, continuing their medal pursuit with confidence at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre.
Meanwhile, the UAE national show jumping team finished fifth in the team event with an overall time of 244.15 seconds. The team featured riders Mabhout Al Kaabi, Alya Al Muhairi, Mohammed Al Ghurair, and Saleh Al Kaabi. Individual show jumping competitions are set to commence on Sunday.
With continued strong performances across multiple disciplines, the UAE remains focused on climbing higher in the rankings as the Games progress.
