The United Arab Emirates celebrated a significant achievement at the 2026 Asian Games as 18-year-old Mariam Kareem clinched the nation’s first gold medal in the women’s 400m hurdles. Kareem set an 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 first gold but also its second athletics medal at the event. Earlier in the Games, Sulaiman Abdulrahman, a 19-year-old athlete, earned a silver medal in the men’s 400m final, clocking in at 44.99 seconds.
Kareem’s performance was noteworthy as she improved significantly from her personal best of 55.14 seconds recorded during the qualifying rounds. Her outstanding achievement was acknowledged by Major General Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al Murr, President of the UAE Athletics Federation, who extended his congratulations on her success.