UAE reaches men’s 400m final as athletes shine at Asian Games Aichi–Nagoya 2026
Bamidele posts fastest heat time as Suleiman also advances
ABU DHABI – The UAE national athletics team secured a place in the men’s 400m final at the Asian Games Aichi–Nagoya 2026 after strong performances from Suleiman Abdulrahman and Emmanuel Bamidele.
Suleiman won his heat in 45.89 seconds, while Bamidele produced the fastest time across all three heats, clocking 45.76 seconds. Both athletes will now compete for a place on the podium in the final.
The UAE national teams also remained active across several disciplines on Friday, with athletes competing in shooting, esports, weightlifting, swimming and equestrian events.
Athletics action
Bamidele’s 45.76 seconds was the quickest mark recorded in the three men’s 400m heats, earning him a direct route into the final. Suleiman also produced a winning performance in his heat, crossing the line in 45.89 seconds to join his compatriot in the medal contest.
In the 10m air pistol mixed team qualification, Ghaya Shuhail and Mohammed Saleh combined for 560 points. Shuhail registered 276 points, while Saleh scored 284, with the UAE finishing 18th in a highly competitive field.
The UAE’s esports campaign came to an end in the Fighting Games quarter-finals after the team suffered a 3-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia. Abdullah Al Muhairi, Mohammed Al Banna and Sultan Taheri had reached the last eight after competing in Group Two.
Weightlifters Bashayer Al Ahbabi and Mai Al Madani also represented the UAE in their respective categories. Al Ahbabi lifted a combined 110kg in the women’s 57kg division, recording 50kg in the snatch and 60kg in the clean and jerk to finish seventh overall.
Al Madani totalled 159kg in the women’s 61kg category, lifting 73kg in the snatch and 86kg in the clean and jerk. Her combined total placed her second in Group Two.
Dressage result
The UAE dressage team finished sixth in the team final with 197.442 points in a competition featuring nine nations and 45 horse-and-rider combinations.
Ali Khalfan Al Jahouri, riding Lotus-S, achieved the UAE’s highest score of 67.030% and recorded an international personal best at Prix St-Georges level. Bianca Schütz, riding Le Grand Ayden HB, scored 66.647%, while Mohamed Jassim Alserkal on Zen Liquidity recorded 63.765% and Natalie Lankester, riding Tesla DXB, scored 60.824%.
The three highest scores were counted towards the UAE’s final team total, securing sixth place with 197.442 points.
The UAE swimming team also concluded its participation at the Games. Mohammed Al Yamahi recorded 2:17.99 in the men’s 200m backstroke, while Omar Al Hammadi clocked 30.64 seconds in the men’s 50m breaststroke.
Meanwhile, UAE officials visited the national jiu-jitsu team’s training camp in Tokyo ahead of its Asian Games competition. The delegation included UAE Ambassador to Japan Shihab Ahmed Mohamed Abdulrahim, UAE Olympic Committee Secretary General Faris Mohammed Al Mutawa, board member Dr Nasser Al Tamimi, UAE Football Association board member Abdulmohsen Fahad Al Dossari and Olympic Committee Executive Director Mohammed bin Darwish.
The officials reviewed the team’s training programme, met athletes and coaching and administrative staff, and examined preparations for the competition.
China continued to lead the medal table with 157 medals, including 97 gold, 36 silver and 24 bronze. Japan was second with 113 medals, comprising 27 gold, 42 silver and 44 bronze, while South Korea ranked third with 64 medals, including 13 gold, 17 silver and 34 bronze.