UAE Achieves Eight Medals At Islamic Solidarity Games Held In Riyadh

The UAE national team celebrated two bronze medals at the sixth Islamic Solidarity Games in Riyadh, held from 7th to 21st November. Sultan Taheri, representing the esports team, and Omar Al Shaltooni from the karate team contributed to the UAE's medal tally. The event featured 3,000 athletes from 57 countries, with the UAE competing in 14 sports.

The UAE has now accumulated eight medals: one gold and seven bronze, ranking them 18th overall. Türkiye leads with an impressive 91 medals, including 51 golds. Uzbekistan follows with 46 medals, while Egypt holds third place with 27 medals. These achievements highlight the competitive spirit and dedication of participating nations.

Sultan Taheri secured a bronze medal in the Tekken 8 esports competition. This achievement marks a significant milestone for the UAE in modern sports arenas. Meanwhile, Omar Al Shaltooni earned his bronze in karate's kumite 67kg category after defeating Uzbekistan’s Abdullawhob Rashidov. His journey included wins over athletes from Jordan, Morocco, and Benin before narrowly losing to Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed Al Asiri in the semi-final.

In Muay Thai, three UAE athletes — Zainab Bu Hamda (55kg), Mohammed Mardhi (70kg), and Elias Habib (75–80kg) — have advanced to the semi-finals. Their matches are scheduled for this evening at Sports Boulevard. This progress showcases the talent and potential within the UAE's Muay Thai contingent.

Three sports have so far seen the UAE flag raised on the podium: judo, esports, and karate. Judo leads with five medals, including a gold for Beshrat Khroudi in the under-52kg category. Bronze medals were won by Mohammed Yazbek (73kg), Narmand Biyan (66kg), Omar Jad (81kg), and Dhafar Kosov (100kg). Karate added two bronzes through Rida Massoudi (84kg) and Omar Al Shaltooni (67kg), while esports contributed a bronze through Sultan Taheri.

Athletes' Reflections

Sultan Taheri expressed satisfaction with his performance in Riyadh, noting that earning bronze followed challenging matches against strong competitors from various nations. He stated that their goal remains to secure first place and elevate the UAE flag at major events worldwide.

Omar Al Shaltooni highlighted the intense competition throughout the tournament and expressed pride in achieving third place after defeating opponents from multiple regions. He extended gratitude to his teammates, coaches, the UAE Karate Federation, and the national delegation for their unwavering support.

Support from Leadership

Rashid Abdulmajid Al Ali, First Vice-President of the UAE Karate Federation and Chairman of the National Teams Committee, praised Al Shaltooni’s performance as a result of structured planning and effective coordination within the Federation. He affirmed ongoing efforts to support athletes and secure more medals in future competitions.

The achievements of Sultan Taheri and Omar Al Shaltooni reflect their dedication and skill across diverse sports disciplines. Their successes contribute significantly to raising the profile of UAE athletes on international platforms.

With inputs from WAM