Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Olympic Committee, has lauded the national athletic contingent for their historic showing at the Aichi–Nagoya 2026 Asian Games. The event, which concluded in Japan on October 4, marked the country’s most successful appearance since its debut in 1978. The UAE finished 13th overall among 45 participating nations, securing a total of 13 medals: seven gold, five silver, and one bronze. Followed by team silver and individual silver at Guangzhou 2010, before adding another team silver to her overall tally at Aichi–Nagoya 2026, sheikha Latifah won team bronze at Doha 2006. He applauded the consistently strong displays recorded by the UAE riders during the Games and their ability to compete hard and ensure podium finishes.
Reflecting on the achievement, Sheikh Mansoor emphasized the determination of the athletes and the collective efforts of national federations, technical staff, and administrative teams. He noted that the record-breaking gold medal count—surpassing the previous benchmark of five set at the Hangzhou Games—reflects the nation’s growing stature among Asia’s top sporting powers. According to he, It reflected the sustained efforts of the athletes, technical and administrative support teams, and national sports federations through the preparatory stages and the competitions during the Games.
Among the standout performances, Mariam Kareem made headlines by winning gold in the women’s 400m hurdles with a time of 54.31 seconds. Her victory set a new Asian Games record and established a fresh Asian U20 record, marking the second-fastest time ever recorded in the world at the U20 level. Sheikh Mansoor praised her resilience, noting that she bounced back from a challenging experience in the mixed 4x400m relay to achieve her historic win. Underscoring her exceptional athletic prowess at a young age, kareem’s performance also marked the second-fastest time ever recorded in the women’s 400m hurdles within the U-20 age group at the world stage. Exemplifying the strength of character required to overcome difficult moments and transform them into motivation for new achievements, kareem then returned to deliver an exceptional performance in the 400m hurdles and claim gold.
Equestrian competition also proved fruitful for the UAE, with the show jumping team securing a silver medal and Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi capturing silver in the individual event on the final day aboard Hudson De Vains. He completed the jump-off in 41.93 seconds with four penalties. Sheikh Mansoor specifically commended Sheikha Latifah Bint Ahmed Bin Juma Al Maktoum, whose contribution to the team silver brought her career Asian Games medal tally to four, matching the historic record held by Malaysia’s Quzandria Nur Mahamad Fathil.
The gold medal success was highlighted by wins from Kazbek Naguchev in the men’s under-73kg judo category and a dominant showing from the jiu-jitsu squad, including Balqees Abdulla, Khaled Al Shehhi, Ahmed Andeez, Mahdi Al Awlaqi, and Asma Al Hosani. Silver medals were also awarded to Suleiman Abdulrahman in athletics and the jiu-jitsu duo of Al Anoud Al Harbi and Omar Al Suwaidi, while Ammar Al Hosani earned bronze in jiu-jitsu.
The 20th Asian Games featured over 11,000 athletes from 45 countries competing across 469 events. The UAE’s 165-member delegation, comprising 117 men and 48 women, participated in disciplines ranging from football and swimming to fencing, golf, and rugby. This edition of the Games served as a significant milestone, as the UAE introduced teams for both modern pentathlon and padel for the first time. Hosted by Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya City in Japan from 19 September to 4 October 2026, the UAE was represented by a 165-strong contingent comprising 117 men and 48 women, competing across a wide range of sporting disciplines, competing at the 20th Asian Games. The Games brought together more than 11,000 athletes, alongside around 6,000 coaches and officials representing 45 countries, over 16 days of competition. The Asian Games’ overall programme featured 43 sports, 71 disciplines and 469 events, making it the world’s second-largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympic Games.
Sheikh Mansoor highlighted that the results serve as a testament to the long-term strategic investment in Emirati athletes. He specifically praised the consistently high level of performance across multiple Asian Games editions demonstrated by veterans like Sheikha Latifah, whose competitiveness continues to inspire the nation.
The closing of the competition in Nagoya solidified the UAE’s position as second among Arab nations in the medal standings. With the Games concluding on October 4, the focus now shifts toward maintaining this momentum in future continental events, building on the foundation established by the 13-medal haul in Japan.
