UAE lead first Gulf Youth Games with staggering 191 medals across 13 sports
The UAE surged ahead with 191 medals ater dominating the 13 sports disciplines at the first Gulf Youth Games.
The inaugural edition of Gulf Youth Games currently underway in UAE under the theme “Our Gulf is One... Our Youth is Promising.” Launched on April 16 and running until May 2, this exciting sports spectacle brings together 3,500 male and female athletes across who are competing in diverse array of 24 sports competitions.
Proving their metle, the UAE national teams have secured podium positions in over 50 per cent of the total games played so far in the tournament, which consists of 24 games.
Maintaining their supremacy in medal standings at the Gulf Youth Games, the Emirati athletes have climbed the podium in a wide range of sports, including athletics, jiu-jitsu, taekwondo, cycling, boxing, and chess. Paralympic athletes have also contributed to the impressive haul, along with those competing in badminton, show jumping, sailing, football, volleyball, and table tennis.
UAE sit firmly in first place with a total of 191 medals (65 gold, 68 silver, and 58 bronze). Saudi Arabia maintained their position in second place with a total of 69 medals (32 gold, 24 silver, and 13 bronze), while Kuwait held onto third place with 63 medals (15 gold, 25 silver, and 23 bronze). Oman are on fourth place with 41 medals (15 gold, 10 silver, and 16 bronze), followed by Bahrain in fith place with 39 medals (11 gold, 11 silver, and 17 bronze).
Qatar rounded off the standings in sixth place with 25 medals (10 gold, 6 silver, and 9 bronze).
The UAE equestrian team clinched three more medals following their remarkable performance in the show jumping competition held at the Sharjah Equestrian Club. They dominated the individual competitions, securing the top three positions.
In the hurdles ranging from 125 to 130 cm, UAE riders excelled, with Issa Omran Al Owais claiming the gold medal aboard “Conkita” with a time of 67.92 seconds. Mabkhout Al Karbi secured the silver medal riding “Delfin von Rochrath” in 64.18 seconds, while Muhammad Saeed Al Khatri earned the bronze on “Kulistan D” with a time of 65.21 seconds.
Sheikha Rawda Bint Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum crowned the winners in the presence of Faris Mohammed Al Mutawa, Secretary General of the National Olympic Commitee and Vice President of the Supreme Commitee for the first Gulf Youth Games UAE 2024, Eisa Hilal Al Hazami, Chairman of the Sharjah Sports Council, and Sultan Khalifa Al Yahyai, Director General of the Sharjah Equestrian Club.
On the opening day of equestrian competitions, UAE team secured the bronze medal, led by the quartet Abdullah Hamad Ali Al-karbi, Ali Ahmed Al-junaibi, Muhammad Saeed Al-ghurair, and Muhammad Hamad Al-karbi, wrapping up their participation with a total of four medals.
The UAE cycling team contributed two silver medals in both individual and overall team races. However, it was the Saudi Arabia who dominated the cycling events, clinching a total of seven medals, including four gold, two silver, and one bronze.
In thrilling matches held at the Shabab Al Ahli Club hall in Al Mamzar, the UAE national table tennis women’s team secured the bronze medal. Bahrain clinched the gold, while the Kuwaiti took silver.
During the second day of the team table tennis competition, the young women team from UAE triumphed over the Oman 3-1, while the Bahraini team emerged victorious against the Kuwaiti team with the same scoreline.
The UAE team was represented by players Hessa Saud Al-nimr, Rahma Hassan Al-khuzaimi, Maryam Sultan Yaqib, Hind Sultan Yaqib, and Mira Hamad Malaleh while Maysaa Nader Abdullah was the coach with Asma Al-balushi serving as the manager.
Additionally, UAE national youth team came close to securing the bronze medal in the team category. On the second day of competition, they achieved a commendable 3-0 victory against the Kuwaiti team but narrowly lost to the Bahraini team 1-3.
Proving their metle, the UAE national teams have secured podium positions in over 50 per cent of the total games played so far in the tournament