Today's Edition
Dubai (Aletihad)
The curtains have, for practical purpose of competitions, come down on the first Gulf Youth Games "UAE 2024" with only a couple of events and the closing ceremony yet to come after 15 days of non-stop action.
Spanning across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, and Fujairah, the inaugural edition has been held under the theme "Our Gulf is One... Our Youth is Promising" with UAE comfortably sealing the overall Games before the official closing date of May 2. More than 3,500 athletes took part.
Before the final push on last day of action, the UAE bolstered their leading position by grabbing 12 more medals, bringing its total to 286. Among these, 93 were gold, 100 silver, and 93 bronze. Saudi Arabia followed in second place with 136 medals, consisting of 52 gold, 52 silver, and 32 bronze.
Kuwait maintained their third place in standings with 116 medals, including 33 gold, 43 silver, and 40 bronze. Qatar claimed fourth place with 72 medals, comprising 29 gold, 18 silver, and 25 bronze. Bahrain secured fifth place with 71 medals, including 24 gold, 19 silver, and 28 bronze. Oman ranked sixth with 58 medals, including 19 gold, 13 silver, and 26 bronze.
Towards the end, there were some interesting tales such as a crop of badminton referees from a single family, a 12-year-old Emirati boy playing billiarrds and history being made for Saudi Arabia with a teen winning a first gold at a Gulf event.
The UAE swimming team surged forward, adding six new medals to their collection for a total of 24. Qatar stayed on top with 30 medals and Kuwaiti swimmers bagged 22 medals.
Meanwhile, the UAE's fencing team made a remarkable start, claiming a total of six medals including two gold.
Salem Al Nuaimi, a bright talent in the national billiards team, demonstrated his prowess as a promising champion in the making. He received the award of being the youngest player in the tournament.
"I'm honoured to represent my country," Salem said after taking the award. "Thank you to the National Olympic Committee and the UAE Billiards and Snooker Federation for giving this opportunity. Huge thanks to my family for their unwavering support. It's a huge motivator to keep training hard and achieve even more for my country in the future."
The Gulf Youth Games marked a significant milestone with the inclusion of 18 male and female referees from the Al Mazrouei family, comprising both juniors and youth, to officiate in the badminton competitions.
The UAE Badminton Federation recognised the contribution of the budding officials to the tournament's success. These aspiring referees, born between 2009 and 2012, have a passion for officiating badminton matches and the Games provided them with a fantastic platform to gain experience.
The UAE already boasts a group of impressive female referees who made their mark on the international stage. Maysoon Al Balushi, Maryam Al Balushi, Aisha Shaheen, Mashael Al Balushi, Mai Mansour, and Aya Muhammad, all officiated at the Asian Cup matches held in Dubai last year.
Mashael Meshari Al Ayed's triumph in the swimming competitions marked a significant moment for Saudi Arabia. She made history by becoming the first from her country to secure a gold medal in swimming at a Gulf event. Not content with just one achievement, she added a silver medal to her record, further solidifying her place in history.
Mashael clinched the gold medal in the 100-metre breaststroke race for the under-18 age group and followed it up with a silver medal in the 100m freestyle competition. She said: "I've competed in international tournaments before, but winning a gold medal at the Gulf level is a first for me, and I'm incredibly proud to be the first Saudi girl to accomplish this feat in women's swimming."
Hailing from Dammam, Mashael is supported by Al Ettifaq Club, where she is a registered member and where the football team is coached by former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.
Mashael noted the growing interest in female swimming in Saudi Arabia, with increasing participation and higher skill levels. Such tournaments serve as strong motivation for athletes like her to compete and strive for success at this level.
Reflecting on her choice of swimming, Mishari credited her father for introducing her to the sport. Recognizing its safety and long-term health benefits, he encouraged her to pursue swimming as a positive form of exercise.
