18-year-old Mariam Kareem wins UAE's first gold medal at Asian Games 2026
Dubai: Mariam Kareem delivered the UAE’s first gold medal at the Asian Games 2026 after winning the women’s 400m hurdles final in a Games-record time of 54.31 seconds in Nagoya on Monday. The 18-year-old produced another standout performance after qualifying fastest for the final with a personal best of 55.14 seconds. She then lowered that mark by almost a second to claim the UAE’s first…
In a landmark moment for the UAE at the Asian Games 2026, 18-year-old Mariam Kareem claimed the country's first gold medal, outpacing competitors in the women's 400m hurdles final. The young athlete shattered the Games record with a time of 54.31 seconds, a feat that also broke the Asian Games record for the fastest 400m hurdles lap by a woman.
Kareem's impressive performance came after she qualified for the final with a personal best of 55.14 seconds. Kazakhstani runner Adelina Zems won silver with a time of 54.58 seconds, while India's Vithya Ramraj secured the bronze in 54.75 seconds. This victory marks a significant milestone in Kareem's burgeoning career, as she has already showcased her talent on the international stage, competing at the Asian Championships and World U20 Championships.
The UAE's medal count began with Sulaiman Abdulrahman's silver in the men's 400m, and now Kareem's gold adds to their growing success in athletics at the Games.
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