UAE Athletics Team Reaches Men’s 400m Final at Aichi–Nagoya 2026 Asian Games
UAE national team duo Suleiman Abdulrahman and Emmanuel Bamidele delivered impressive performances in the men’s 400m heats at the Asian Games Aichi–Nagoya 2026. Suleiman clocked 45.89 seconds to win his heat, while Bamidele recorded 45.76 seconds, the fastest time across the three heats, to secure his place in the final.
UAE national teams continued their participation in the Games, with shooting duo Ghaya Shuhail and Mohammed Saleh combining for 560 points in the qualification round of the 10m air pistol mixed team event. Shuhail scored 276 points and Saleh 284, with the UAE finishing 18th in a highly competitive field.
In esports, the UAE team’s campaign ended in the Fighting Games quarter-finals following a 3–1 defeat to Saudi Arabia. The team, comprising Abdullah Al Muhairi, Mohammed Al Banna and Sultan Taheri, had advanced to the quarter-finals after competing in Group Two.
In weightlifting, Bashayer Al Ahbabi recorded a total of 110kg in the women’s 57kg category, lifting 50kg in the snatch and 60kg in the clean and jerk to finish seventh overall.
Mai Al Madani recorded a total of 159kg in the women’s 61kg category, with 73kg in the snatch and 86kg in the clean and jerk, to finish second in Group Two.
The UAE swimming team concluded its participation at the Games, with Mohammed Al Yamahi clocking 2:17.99 in the men’s 200m backstroke and Omar Al Hammadi recording 30.64 seconds in the men’s 50m breaststroke.
In equestrian, the UAE dressage team finished sixth overall in the team final with a total of 197.442 points, in a competition featuring nine nations and 45 horse-and-rider combinations.
The UAE was represented by Ali Khalfan Al Jahouririding Lotus-S, Bianca Schütz riding Le Grand Ayden HB, Mohamed Jassim Alserkal riding Zen Liquidity, and Natalie Lankester riding Tesla DXB.
Al Jahouri recorded the UAE’s highest score at 67.030%, while also achieving an international personal best at Prix St-Georges level. Bianca Schütz scored 66.647%, Mohamed Jassim Alserkal 63.765%, and Natalie Lankester 60.824%.
The three highest scores counted towards the final team standings, giving the UAE an aggregate of 197.442 points and sixth place overall.
The UAE’s participation in Tokyo marks another important step in the development of dressage in the country. The UAE dressage team made its Asian Games debut in Hangzhou three years ago, also finishing sixth. The 2025–2026 season also saw the UAE host international dressage competitions for the first time, reflecting the sport’s continued growth through expanded international competition opportunities at home and increased UAE participation abroad.
Al Jahouri expressed his delight at achieving an international personal best and thanked His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, for his continued support for equestrian sport. He also thanked everyone who attended to support him and the UAE team in Tokyo.
Marwan Hafez Al Hattawi, coach of the UAE national swimming team, described the swimmers’ participation at the Asian Games as positive overall, noting that most members of the team maintained their established times and performance levels in their opening races, indicating that the preparation programme is progressing in the right direction.
He explained that the federation is currently focusing on young swimmers and building a new generation capable of carrying forward the progress of those who came before them. He noted that the current participation forms part of this approach, particularly as most of the swimmers are still gaining experience and progressing through major competitions.
Al Hattawi highlighted Salem Ghaleb’s return to his established level following a period of national service and his transition into employment as one of the key positives. He stressed that Ghaleb remains an important member of UAE swimming and that his strong return represents a valuable addition to the national team in the next phase.
He added that the primary objective at this stage extends beyond results, with a strong emphasis on giving young swimmers experience of competing in major multi-sport events and managing the accompanying technical, mental and media pressures, given the different nature of such events compared with regular championships.
He explained that the Asian Games represent an important preparatory milestone ahead of upcoming competitions. Abdullah Al Ameri is preparing to compete at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, while Hamad Al Shehhi and Mohammed Al Yamahi are set to participate in the World Aquatics Swimming Championships (25m) in China in December. He noted that the Asian Games environment helps the swimmers adapt to high-level competition ahead of those events.
The UAE coach said the Asian Games are akin to a mini world championship in swimming, given the presence of leading world champions from China and Japan, particularly in freestyle, breaststroke and individual medley events. He explained that competing directly against athletes of this calibre provides the UAE swimmers with a significant morale boost and gives them first-hand insight into the training and preparation methods of some of Asia’s leading swimmers.
Al Hattawi concluded by stressing that major multi-sport events require a different approach to preparation due to the media pressure, television coverage and intensity surrounding the competitions. He said that giving young swimmers exposure to such an environment represents an important step in their development during the next phase.
As part of efforts to support the national teams and strengthen communication with athletes, His Excellency Faris Mohammed Al Mutawa, Secretary General of the UAE Olympic Committee; His Excellency Shihab Ahmed Mohamed Abdulrahim AlFaheem, UAE Ambassador to Japan; His Excellency Dr Nasser Al Tamimi, Board Member of the UAE Olympic Committee; His Excellency Abdulmohsen Fahad Al Dossari, Board Member of the UAE Football Association; and Mohammed bin Darwish, Executive Director of the UAE Olympic Committee, visited the UAE national jiu-jitsu team’s training camp in Tokyo ahead of its participation in the Asian Games Aichi–Nagoya 2026.
During the visit, the delegation reviewed the progress of the team’s training programme and the athletes’ readiness ahead of the start of competition. They also met with the coaching and administrative staff and the national team athletes, and checked on the preparations and arrangements for the team’s participation.
The officials reaffirmed their support for the national team athletes and wished them every success in delivering their best performances during the competition, reflecting the continued development of UAE jiu-jitsu and its presence on the continental stage.
China continued to lead the medal table at the Asian Games Aichi–Nagoya 2026 with 157 medals — 97 gold, 36 silver and 24 bronze. Japan followed with 113 medals — 27 gold, 42 silver and 44 bronze — while South Korea ranked third with 64 medals, comprising 13 gold, 17 silver and 34 bronze.
Bahrain moved to the top of the Arab standings with five medals — three gold and two silver — placing 11th overall. Qatar followed in second place among Arab nations and 15th overall with two gold, two silver and one bronze, while Kuwait ranked third among Arab nations and 16th overall with two gold, one silver and two bronze. Jordan followed in fourth with one gold, one silver and one bronze, while Saudi Arabia ranked fifth with two silver and three bronze medals.
Oman entered the medal table for the first time after Ali Al Balushi and Mulham Al Balushi claimed silver and bronze respectively in the men’s 100m.
In tomorrow’s programme, UAE national teams will continue their participation across several sports, with the archery team beginning its campaign in the individual, team and mixed team events.
Khalifa Al Kaabi will compete in the men’s individual recurve, while Huda Al Ali, Aisha Al Ali and Hessa Al Awadhi will contest the women’s individual recurve. The UAE will also compete in the team and mixed team events.
In compound archery, Abdullah Al Mansoori, Yousef Al Hosani and Sultan Al Menhali will compete in the men’s individual and team events, while Amna Al Awadhi, Joumana Al Najjar and Maitha Al Nuaimi will represent the UAE in the women’s individual and team events. The UAE will also contest the mixed team competition.
Attention will also turn to the individual dressage competition, with all four UAE riders — Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri, Bianca Schütz, Mohamed Jassim Alserkal and Natalie Lankester — set to compete tomorrow.
In athletics, Abdul Quddous Ali will contest the opening round of the men’s 200m, while Aminat Kamarudeenwill compete in the women’s 200m, continuing her Games campaign after representing the UAE in the mixed 4x400m relay.
