19-year-old Sulaiman Abdulrahman has made history for the UAE by winning the country’s first medal at the Aichi–Nagoya 2026 Asian Games, taking silver in the men’s 400 metres final in Nagoya, Japan.
Abdulrahman clocked an impressive 44.99 seconds, finishing just 0.09 seconds behind Thailand’s Joshua Atkinson, who won gold in 44.90 seconds. UAE teammate Emmanuel Bamidele also competed in the final, finishing seventh in 45.97 seconds.
The silver marks another major achievement in a breakthrough year for Abdulrahman. Earlier in 2026, he won the 400m at the Asian U20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong, setting a championship record of 44.85 seconds. He also became the first athlete in the history of those championships to break the 45-second barrier.
The UAE Athletics Federation described the result as a significant achievement for the country’s young sporting talent. Federation President Major General Dr Mohammed Abdullah Al Murr said the narrow margin in the final made the silver particularly significant and highlighted the importance of continued investment in young athletes.
Abdulrahman’s achievement opened the UAE’s medal account at the 2026 Asian Games and provided an early highlight for the country’s 165-athlete delegation.
The result also adds to the UAE’s growing athletics profile on the Asian stage, with the country continuing to invest in developing young athletes capable of competing at major international competitions.
With several events still ahead at Aichi–Nagoya, UAE athletes will continue competing across athletics, shooting, equestrian, sailing, archery and other disciplines.
