JAKARTA: Saudi Arabia secured a third medal at the Asian Games on Monday, but it was Bahrain once more who made the most impressive charge up the table, adding two golds and a silver to their already impressive haul.
Saudi karateka Raef Al-Turkistani had to settle for silver after being defeated 5-0 in the final of the Men’s Under-75kg final by Iran’s Bahman Asgari Ghoncheh. According to the official Twitter feed of the Saudi Arabia General Sports Authority, Al-Turkistani will be rewarded 300,000 riyals on arrival back home for his exploits at the JCC Plenary Hall.
Inside the nearby Gelora Bung Karno stadium, Bahraini runner Oluwakemi Adekoya secured gold in the Women’s 400-meter Hurdles with a time of 54.48 seconds. The time broke the Asian Games record of 54.87 seconds, which itself had only been achieved the previous evening. Adeyoka’s compatriot, Aminat Jamal, clocked 55.65s to finish narrowly behind Thi Lan Quach of Vietnam and claim bronze. Shortly after, Yavi Winfred won Bahrain its second gold of the day when she completed the Women’s 3,000m Steeplechase in nine minutes 36 seconds.
Around 60km south of Jakarta, at the Pakansari Stadium, the UAE football team qualified for the semifinals of the Men’s Football after overcoming North Korea 5-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in regular time. Syria, however, also pushed to extra time in their quarter-final with Vietnam, eventually conceded and were eliminated to miss out on a place in the last four. The war-torn nation did though finish the day with their first medal, courtesy of Majd Eddin Ghzal, who took bronze in the Men’s High Jump.
Jordan also secured a bronze — their eighth of the Games — when Bashar Al-Najjar won his medal match against Saadi Ghulam Abbas of Pakistan in the Men’s Karate Under-75kg. Al-Najjar had lost to Saudi’s Al-Turkistani earlier in the day.
Meanwhile, the Kuwait National Olympic Committee, who had taken its first two medals — both gold — since having its ban overturned on Sunday, continued to enjoy success, adding a further silver on Monday. Ahmad Al-Mesfer lost to Japan’s Ryutaro Araga in the final of the Men’s Under-84kg category. And Qatar’s Ashraf Elseify bagged gold in the Men’s Hammer Throw competition before Yasser Bagharab added a silver in the Men’s 3000m Steeplechase.
Bahrain make impressive charge at Asian Games, KSA secure third medal
Bahrain make impressive charge at Asian Games, KSA secure third medal
- Saudi Arabia secured a third medal at the Asian Games on Monday,
- Bahrain once more made the most impressive charge up the table, adding two golds and a silver to their already impressive haul
Manchester City Abu Dhabi Cup 2027 dates confirmed
- After a record-breaking tournament in January, the competition returns next year from Jan. 8-10
ABU DHABI: The Manchester City Abu Dhabi Cup will return in 2027 following another record-breaking edition last month, and the registration window is now open.
From Jan. 8 to 10, 2027, teams from across the world will be able to compete in the eighth edition of the region’s Tournament of Choice.
The competition’s three-day format returns after a successful expansion this year that had more than 8,000 people attend Zayed Sports City across a weekend that featured 3,500 local, regional and international players.
In total, 244 teams from the under-8 to under-16 categories competed in the 2026 edition, with 86 international sides, spanning 18 countries, four continents, and a record-breaking 44 girl teams.
Off the pitch, players and spectators were able to enjoy the City Village that played host to entertainment and activations supported by the club’s partners.
This included the e& Gaming Zone, Puma pop-up and Aldar’s showcase of Fahid Island, as well as performances from a DJ and visits from special guests, including tournament ambassador and Manchester City legend Nedum Onuoha, and event host FG.
Teams will compete for the Abu Dhabi Cup, and individual age-group winners will go into a prize draw for their team to win a trip to a City Football Group club, where they will train and watch the first team in action.
Simon Hewitt, tournament director, and director of Football Operations MENA, said the 2026 edition was a “landmark event.”
“It was the first time we had expanded the tournament to three days, and the reaction to that decision was incredible. Players were able to spend more time on the pitch, take in the incredible atmosphere of the City Village, and enjoy the sights and attractions of Abu Dhabi.
“We might only be a month removed from that tournament, but the hard work in preparing for 2027 starts now. Already, teams are asking when they can register, and we expect huge competition for places from all over the world.”
