Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Sunday, Mar 22, 2026

Abdulghani clinches first gold for Saudi Arabia in Gulf Games

Abdulghani clinches first gold for Saudi Arabia in Gulf Games

Ali Abdulghani grabbed Saudi Arabia’s first gold medal in the 3rd Gulf Games, which kicked off in Kuwait on Monday. He emerged tops in the javelin throw by hurling a distance of 71.15 meters.
The Saudi stars who sparkled on the first day of the event also included sprinters Abdullah Abkar, Mohammed Daoud Tolo, and Mazen Al-Yassin, who won silver medals, from among a contingent of over 250 Saudi athletes who are participating in the Games.

Female sprinter Mizna Al-Nasser won the bronze medal in the 10,000-meter race with a time of 45:32 minutes. Mizna’s bronze was the first medal for the Kingdom in the Games, in which female athletes are competing for the first time.

In the men’s 100-meter race, the silver went to Saudi sprinter Abdullah Abkar with a time of 10.21 seconds, while sprinter Mohammed Daoud came in fourth in a time of 10.32 seconds.

Mazen Al-Yassin bagged the silver medal by finishing second in the men’s 400-meter race with a time of 45.83 seconds.

Mohammed Daoud Tolo claimed silver in the shot put with a throw of 20.49 meters, while Hammoud Al-Alwani took bronze in the long jump by clearing a distance of 7.15 meters.

Female athlete Roaa Al-Sulaimani finished fifth in the 100-meter hurdles for women with a time of 18.83 seconds and in the women’s 100-meter race, Saudi Arabia’s Olympic runner Yasmeen Al-Dabbagh finished fifth with a time of 12.90 seconds while Lujain Al-Hamid came in the seventh position with a time of 13.72 seconds.

Saja Jalal finished sixth in the women’s shot put with a distance of 6.84 meters. She also came fifth in the long jump with a leap of 3.98 meters.

In the futsal competitions, the Saudi men’s team clinched a 3-1 win over Bahrain while the women’s team lost to Bahrain 4-1 in their opening matches.

The third Gulf Games were scheduled to begin on Friday, May 13, but was postponed for three days due to the death of UAE President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan. The Games will run through until the end of May at a dozen venues in Kuwait.

Monday’s events included athletics for men and women at Ahamad Al-Rashdan Track and Field in Keifan area; Futsal and basketball at Sheikh Saad Al-Abdallah complex in Sabah Al-Salem area in addition to shooting training at Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Olympic Shooting Complex.

In the second edition of the Gulf Game, which was held in Dammam in 2015, Saudi Arabia emerged the champions with 115 medals, including 57 gold, 35 silver and 23 bronze.

Around 1,700 athletes from six GCC nations are competing in the Gulf Games in 16 disciplines including handball, volleyball, basketball, futsal, swimming, athletes, shooting, karate, judo, tennis, cycling, ice-hockey, table tennis, padel and e-sports.

Women are competing for the first time in seven sports, including futsal, e-sports, athletics, cycling, 3x3 basketball, padel and table tennis.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Saudi Arabia Criticises Israeli Strikes in Southern Syria Amid Rising Regional Tensions
Egypt and Saudi Arabia Warn Iran’s Actions Threaten Stability Across the Gulf
Egypt and Saudi Arabia Warn Iran’s Actions Threaten Stability Across the Gulf
Saudi Arabia Unveils Comprehensive 2026 Roadmap to Streamline Company Formation
Saudi-UAE Tensions Reveal Emerging Rivalry at the Heart of Gulf Power Dynamics
Saudi Arabia Launches Gulf Maritime Support Initiative to Safeguard Shipping
Saudi Arabia Expands US Military Access as UAE Braces for Prolonged Iran Conflict
Saudi Arabia Expels Iranian Diplomats Amid Escalating Regional Tensions
Saudi Arabia’s Edarat Wins Major Data Centre Deal with Regional Bank
Iran Intensifies Gulf Offensive as Saudi Arabia Intercepts Dozens of Drones
Regional Powers Hold Security Talks as Turkey Seeks New Strategic Pact
Asian Refiners Urge Saudi Arabia to Revise Oil Pricing Mechanism Amid War-Driven Volatility
Gulf States Weigh US Base Access and Military Alignment as Iran War Intensifies
IRGC Claims Strikes on Israel, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia as Conflict Widens
Remains of Fallen Soldier Repatriated Following Death in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia Intercepts Multiple Drones Amid Continued Iranian-Linked Attacks
Iran Tensions Challenge Saudi Arabia’s Strategic Shift to Red Sea Oil Exports
Saudi Arabia Turns to Alternative Export Routes as Hormuz Disruption Strains Oil Flows
Saudi Arabia and UAE Move Closer to Backing US-Israeli Campaign Against Iran
Saudi Arabia Signals Readiness for Military Response as Iran Tensions Escalate
Saudi Arabia Warns Oil Could Surge Beyond $180 as Iran Conflict Disrupts Global Supply
Saudi Arabia Reports Drone Strike on Key Red Sea Refinery in Yanbu
United States Urges Citizens to Leave Saudi Arabia Amid Escalating Regional Conflict
Former Media Executive Chronicles Rise of Saudi Crown Prince in New Book
Saudi Aramco–Exxon Refinery in Yanbu Targeted in Latest Wave of Iranian Attacks
Greek-Operated Patriot System Intercepts Iranian Missiles Over Saudi Arabia
Asian Refiners Urge Saudi Arabia to Revise Oil Pricing as War Upends Markets
Arab and Muslim Ministers Convene in Riyadh to Coordinate Response to Iran Crisis
Saudi Arabia Expands Global Partnerships to Accelerate Vision 2030 Transformation
Europe and Japan Signal Readiness to Help Secure Strait of Hormuz Amid Escalating Crisis
Saudi Arabia Signals Firm Stance as Iranian-Linked Attacks Intensify
U.S. Lawmakers Press Rubio to Enforce Strong Safeguards in Saudi Nuclear Deal
Iran Issues Evacuation Warning to Gulf States After Strike on Major Gas Field
Saudi Arabia to Convene Arab and Islamic Ministers for Urgent Talks on Regional Conflict
Saudi Arabia Confirms Eid al-Fitr as Moon Sighting Determines End of Ramadan
Saudi Arabia Boosts Crude Exports to Highest Levels Since 2023, Data Shows
Iran Issues Warning to Gulf Energy Infrastructure Following Strike on Major Gas Field
Saudi Arabia Restarts Ras Tanura Refinery Following Drone Strike, Reinforcing Energy Resilience
Saudi Arabia Restarts Ras Tanura Refinery Following Drone Strike, Reinforcing Energy Resilience
Saudi Arabia Intercepts Ballistic Missiles Targeting Riyadh Amid Escalating Regional Tensions
Saudi Arabia Restores Significant Oil Flows Using Hormuz Bypass Amid Regional Tensions
Saudi Arabia Signals Potential Activation of Defence Pact with Pakistan Amid Escalating Iran Conflict
Saudi Supreme Court Urges Muslims to Observe Crescent Moon for Eid Determination
Saudi Supreme Court Urges Muslims to Observe Crescent Moon for Eid Determination
Saudi Arabia Reassesses Iran Strategy as Regional Conflict Tests MBS’s Diplomatic Bet
Iran Steps Up Drone Strikes on Saudi Oil Sites, Heightening Risks to Global Supply
Regional Fallout Grows as Iran Conflict Sends Shockwaves Across Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt
Saudi Arabia Intercepts Seven Drones in Intensifying Regional Security Threat
Saudi Arabia Intercepts Seven Drones in Intensifying Regional Security Threat
Saudi Arabia Weighs Regional Risks as Iran Conflict Deepens and Security Calculations Shift
×