Doha: The UAE athletes returned home yesterday from Doha after their participation in the 12th Arab Games which came to an end on Friday night.
It was one of their most successful performances in the history of the Games, which saw them returning with 35 medals (10 gold, 9 silver and 16 bronze) in comparison to 25 medals (7 gold, 9 silver and 9 bronze) which they won in the last edition in Cairo in 2007.
The decision of the UAE National Olympic Committee to provide a chance to the athletes who were real medal hopefuls and focus on individual disciplines paid dividends, while the only team game they participated in — women's volleyball — also brought them a medal.
Heartening aspect
Shooting, equestrian (endurance) and golf were the most successful sports for the UAE in the Games — shooting bringing home 3 gold, 2 silver and as many bronze, while the endurance team won 2 gold, one silver and one bronze, and the golf team won two gold medals. Athletics, karate and sailing are the other sports in which the UAE won gold medals.
The harvest from other sports were: tennis, a bronze medal; chess, a bronze; weightlifting, (women), a bronze; cue sports, a silver and a bronze; athletics (in addition to the gold medal), two silver and two bronze; karate, a silver (with the gold medal); wrestling, a silver; bowling, a silver and two bronze; women's volleyball team, a bronze medal; sailing, a bronze (with the gold medal); table tennis, one bronze; and cycling, one bronze.
The most heartening aspect was the performance of UAE women, who won two gold and two silver medals in shooting and athletics, and a bronze each in volleyball, dressage, athletics, shooting and weightlifting.
History
In weightlifting, the UAE women made history by becoming the first in the Arabian Gulf region to practise the sport and win medals at the Arab Games level.
However, this sport also brought its quota of shame as Aisha Al Beloushi tested positive for taking prohibited substances. She was stripped of the silver medal she won in weightlifting.
Meanwhile, Egypt continued their historical leadership of the medal standings of the Arab Games as they finished the competition with a total of 232 medals (88 gold, 77 silver and 67 bronze), followed by Tunisia with 138 (54 gold, 45 silver and 39 bronze). Morocco was third with 113 (35 gold, 24 silver and 54 bronze). The hosts, Qatar, finished fourth with 110 (32 gold, 38 silver and 40 bronze). The UAE were placed 11th.
