UAE Athletes Shine on Day Two of Asian Youth Games in Bahrain: Arwa Ali Breaks Record in 100m Sprint

The UAE delegation continued its strong presence at the 3rd Asian Youth Games in Bahrain, with multiple achievements and spirited performances across several sports on the second day of competition.

Arwa Ali Sets New Record, Advances to 100m Semifinals

UAE sprinter Arwa Ali broke the Asian Youth Games record in the U18 girls’ 100m sprint, clocking an impressive 11.84 seconds to secure her place in the semifinals. Fellow Emirati athlete Laila Ahmed also advanced to the semifinals with a time of 11.99 seconds. In the boys' 100m race, Abdulaziz Eid finished seventh with a time of 11.47 seconds.

UAE Participates in Nine Sports on Day Two

The second day of competition featured UAE athletes competing across nine different sports. The Games, officially opened last night at the Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Centre, are hosting over 5,000 athletes from 45 countries competing in 26 sports and 253 events.

3x3 Basketball: UAE Youth Team Beats Turkmenistan

The UAE boys' 3x3 basketball team opened their campaign with a 21–12 victory over Turkmenistan, displaying an organized and energetic performance. However, they fell short in their second match, losing 18–11 to Chinese Taipei. Meanwhile, the UAE girls' team lost both their matches — 19–4 to Kazakhstan and 21–3 to Chinese Taipei.

Triathlon: Discator Bouton Finishes First Among Arabs and Gulf Athletes

In the youth individual sprint triathlon event, Discator Bouton delivered a standout performance, finishing 14th overall with a time of 29:45 minutes, ranking first among Arab and Gulf participants. Teammates Matteo Green and Ali Al Kaabi finished 19th and 25th with times of 30:28 minutes and 32:27 minutes, respectively.

Handball: UAE to Face Kuwait After Win Over Kazakhstan

The UAE youth handball team is set to face Kuwait this evening in a decisive Group B match. The team currently holds two points from two matches — a 40–25 loss to China followed by a 35–27 victory over Kazakhstan. The top two teams from each group advance to the next stage.

Show Jumping: UAE Begins Team Competition

UAE’s show jumping team begins its campaign today in the team category, which features 46 riders from 12 countries. Representing the UAE are Mabkhout Al Karbi, Alya Al Muhairi, Mohammed Al Ghurair, and Saleh Al Karbi.

Boxing and Muay Thai: Preliminary Bouts Begin

In boxing preliminaries, Ali Mashel faces Pakistan’s Hussain Jiyad in the 54 kg weight category, while Moaz Mohammed takes on Uzbekistan’s Diyorbek Muradillov in the 75 kg class. In Muay Thai, Essam Khalil competes against China’s Guo Junxiang in the Round of 16 for the 57 kg category.

Minister of Sports Praises UAE Delegation’s Participation

His Excellency Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports and Vice President of the UAE National Olympic Committee, emphasized that the UAE’s participation in the Asian Youth Games reflects the leadership’s vision of empowering a promising new generation of athletes.

He also extended his gratitude to H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE NOC, for his continued support and dedication to improving the Olympic movement and athlete development in the UAE.

Al Falasi expressed confidence in the athletes' abilities to reach podium finishes, stating that such international exposure will greatly enrich their sporting careers and prepare them for future high-level competitions such as the Olympic Games and continental championships.

He further emphasized the key role of the National Sports Talent Schools Program, which continues to serve as a vital pipeline for discovering and nurturing talented student-athletes across various disciplines, ultimately preparing them to represent the UAE internationally.

UAE Equestrian Federation Confirms Readiness for Jumping and Endurance Events

Major General Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al Raisi, President of the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation, confirmed that the national equestrian team is fully prepared to compete in both show jumping and endurance disciplines at Bahrain 2025.

He credited the UAE’s successful preparations to strong performances in local and international events, supported by the nation’s leadership. Al Raisi noted that the addition of endurance riding to this edition of the Games will enhance the level of competition, especially given the UAE’s rich equestrian heritage.