UAE Swimmer Hussain Shawqi Achieves Historic Gold Medal And Record At Asian Youth Games

Hussain Shawqi, representing the UAE national team, clinched the gold medal in the 50m butterfly at the Asian Youth Games. He set a new event record with a time of 24.73 seconds. Shawqi edged out Hong Kong's Lau Kin James by 0.24 seconds, who took silver with 24.97 seconds. Wu Chao-Si from Chinese Taipei secured bronze, finishing third in 25.05 seconds.

In an impressive display of endurance and skill, Shawqi participated in three finals within a single day at the Bahrain-hosted Games. He had earlier qualified for the 50m butterfly final with a time of 25.16 seconds, leading his closest competitor by 0.42 seconds. On Monday, he also earned a bronze medal in the 50m freestyle.

The UAE's total medal count increased to 19 after Shawqi's victory, comprising eight golds, six silvers, and five bronzes. This achievement placed the UAE sixth overall and first among Arab nations. China led with 98 medals, followed by Uzbekistan with 40, and Thailand with 33.

Shawqi attributes his success to rigorous training and seizing every competitive opportunity. "True achievement stems from discipline, dedication, and commitment," he stated, crediting his coaches for instilling this philosophy.

Marwan Al Hattawi, Head Coach of the UAE National Swimming Team, expressed pride in Shawqi's performance throughout the Games. He noted that preparations began on June 20th when swimmers were selected based on age eligibility for the Asian Youth Games.

"My deepest thanks to the Ministry of Sports, the National Olympic Committee, and the UAE Aquatic Sports Federation," Shawqi said. "Their collective efforts have led to this remarkable success — and what lies ahead promises to be even greater in future international competitions."

Al Hattawi highlighted that effective preparation was key to their success at these games. The team's readiness was evident in their performances across various events.

This remarkable achievement underscores not only individual talent but also teamwork and strategic planning within UAE sports organisations.

With inputs from WAM