The United Arab Emirates celebrated a historic achievement at the 2026 Asian Games as 18-year-old Mariam Kareem clinched the country’s first gold medal in the women’s 400m hurdles. Kareem set a new Asian Games record with a time of 54.31 seconds, narrowly defeating Kazakhstan’s Adelina Zems by 0.27 seconds. Vithya Ramraj of India secured the bronze medal.
This victory not only marked the UAE’s inaugural gold in the current Games but also added to the nation’s medal tally in athletics. Previously, Sulaiman Abdulrahman, another promising young athlete at 19, had captured a silver medal in the men’s 400m final with a time of 44.99 seconds.
Kareem’s triumph was particularly remarkable given her performance during the qualifying rounds, where she set a personal best of 55.14 seconds. Her improvement in the finals highlights her exceptional talent and determination. The President of the UAE Athletics Federation, Major General Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al Murr, extended his congratulations to Kareem for her outstanding accomplishment.
The success of Kareem and Abdulrahman at the Asian Games underscores the growing competitiveness of UAE athletes on the international stage. Their achievements are likely to inspire a new generation of athletes in the UAE and contribute to the development of athletics in the region.