Mariam Kareem: Athletics chief praises 'exceptional achievement' of UAE's Asian Games gold medal winner
The head of the UAE Olympic Committee has praised Mariam Kareem's "exceptional achievement" in winning the country's first gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games. Kareem came home first in the women's 400m hurdles final in Aichi-Nagoya on Monday, setting a new Asian Games record time of 54.31 seconds . The teenager had qualified for the final with a dominant run in the heats on Sunday as she clocked…
The President of the UAE Athletics Federation, Major General Dr Mohammed Abdullah Al Murr, commended Mariam Kareem's remarkable accomplishment in securing the UAE's maiden gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games. The 18-year-old triumphed in the women's 400m hurdles final, clocking a record-breaking time of 54.31 seconds. Not only did Kareem claim the title, but she also set a new Asian Games record and a U20 world best time of 2026.
Dr Al Murr hailed her as a promising talent capable of competing at the world stage. This achievement follows Kareem's recent success, including winning the 400m hurdles gold at the Asian U20 Championships in Hong Kong and two gold medals at the 2025 Asian U18 Athletics Championships in Dammam. She previously competed in the 2024 Olympics, clocking a personal best of 13.26 in the 100m, though she did not advance to the heats.
The UAE's first medal of the Games belonged to Sulaiman Abdulrahman, who secured a silver in the men's 400m final, finishing just 0.09 seconds behind Thailand's Joshua Atkinson. Dr Al Murr expressed pride in Abdulrahman's performance, noting that it exemplifies the aspirations of UAE athletics on both continental and international platforms.
Written by urgent.news from The National UAE's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
