UAE Sets Asian Games Gold-medal Record at Aichi-Nagoya 2026
Umer Jamshaid
Published October 03, 2026 | 02:30 AM
(UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 03rd Oct, 2026) NAGOYA, Japan, October 2, 2026 (WAM) – The UAE has elevated its gold-medal tally to a record seven at the Aichi–Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, surpassing its previous best of five at Hangzhou.
This achievement was marked by the UAE national jiu-jitsu team's addition of two gold and one bronze medal on the second day of competition, bringing their overall medal count to 12—seven gold, four silver, and one bronze.
Mahdi Al Awlaqi secured gold in the men's under-77kg category, while Asma Al Hosani won the women's under-52kg title and Ammar Al Hosani earned bronze in the men's under-94kg division.
These results boosted the jiu-jitsu team's medal tally to eight—five gold, two silver, and one bronze.
The UAE's seven gold medals were won by:
- Mariam Kareem in the women's 400m hurdles
- Kazbek Naguchev in men's under-73kg judo
- Balqees Abdulla (women's under-48kg), Khaled Al Shehhi (men's under-62kg), Ahmed Andeez (men's under-69kg), Mahdi Al Awlaqi (men's under-77kg), and Asma Al Hosani (women's under-52kg) in jiu-jitsu.
The four silvers were secured by:
- Suleiman Abdulrahman in the men's 400m
- Al Anoud Al Harbi in women's under-48kg jiu-jitsu
- Omar Al Suwaidi in men's under-62kg jiu-jitsu
- The UAE show jumping team
Ammar Al Hosani's under-94kg jiu-jitsu bronze completed the medal haul.
Faris Mohammed Al Mutawa, Secretary General of the UAE Olympic Committee, expressed pride in the achievement, attributing it to the athletes, technical and administrative teams, and national sports federations. He also thanked H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Olympic Committee, for his unwavering support.
Al Mutawa noted that the UAE's 165-strong delegation is part of ongoing efforts to enhance the country's sporting competitiveness, with a focus on the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
In judo, Mohammed Omar Marouf missed out on a medal in the men's over-100kg category after losing to South Korea's Kim Min-jong by ippon in golden score. He had previously defeated the Philippines' Kedo Isliken in the round of 16 and China's Li Haiyang in the quarter-finals.
Gadzhimurad Omarov reached the men's under-90kg quarter-finals, defeating Kazakhstan's Aidar Arabov in the round of 16 before losing to Kyrgyzstan's Erlan Sherov and then Iran's Amir Abbas Choopan in the repechage.
The UAE rugby team's quarter-final match against South Korea ended with a 29-12 defeat, after which they will compete in the classification matches for fifth to eighth place against Malaysia.
In taekwondo, Amna Al Loghani exited the women's under-67kg competition following a 2-0 round-of-16 defeat to Jordan's Razan Al Rawashdeh.
The UAE's sporting journey continues on Saturday with events in rugby, equestrian, judo, and other disciplines.