The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia achieved a remarkable and unprecedented sporting accomplishment in its Paralympic history, as the Saudi national team concluded its participation in the Fifth Asian Youth Paralympic Games, held in Dubai, UAE, with a substantial haul of 42 medals, placing the Kingdom in eleventh place in the overall ranking of the Games.
Details of the final day and Saudi gold
The final day of the four-day tournament, which saw wide participation from 1,500 players representing 35 Asian countries, witnessed a remarkable performance from the Kingdom's champions. The boccia team secured two valuable gold medals; the first came through player Abdulaziz Al-Zahrani, who defeated his Kazakh opponent 5-2 in the BC1 final, while his teammate Saud Al-Suwaid added the second gold with a well-deserved 6-1 victory over his Uzbekistani opponent in the BC2 final.
In athletics, Saudi athletes continued their medal haul, with Faisal Al-Dosari winning gold in the 1500m (T20) race and Abdulmajeed Al-Ghafeeri taking silver in the same event. Al-Baraa Al-Qarni added a silver medal in the 1500m (T54) race, while Faisal Al-Marzouq, Hamad Mabqoum, and Yahya Khabrani each secured bronze medals in the javelin throw and sprint events, further boosting the Kingdom's overall medal count.
Record numbers and historical comparison
This achievement marks a pivotal moment in the history of Saudi Paralympic sports, as the results of this edition have surpassed all expectations and previous records. Looking back at historical records, this tally (42 medals, including 11 gold) has broken the combined records of all previous editions. In the 2013 Kuala Lumpur Games, the Kingdom won only one gold medal, in Dubai 2017 it won 10 gold medals, and in Bahrain 2021 it only managed 3 gold medals.
Twenty-two male and female athletes contributed to this achievement, with the athletics team winning the lion's share with 23 medals, followed by the swimming team with 14 medals, reflecting the great development in the technical and physical preparation of Saudi athletes with disabilities.
Reflections on the Kingdom's Vision and the Development of Paralympic Sports
This achievement cannot be separated from the comprehensive sports movement underway in Saudi Arabia under Vision 2030, which has given special attention to empowering people with disabilities and integrating them into society through sports. This historic accomplishment reflects the fruits of continuous government support and the strategic plans implemented by the Saudi Paralympic Committee to develop young talent and create champions capable of competing at the continental and international levels.
Closing ceremony and flag handover
In a majestic closing ceremony, table tennis champion Renad Al-Rahili raised the Saudi flag at the closing ceremony of the Games in Dubai. The ceremony included artistic and cultural performances, and a speech by the President of the Asian Paralympic Committee, Majid Rashid, before the Games flag was officially handed over to the Kingdom of Cambodia, which will host the next edition in 2029. Saudi teams will now begin their preparations to continue their pursuit of gold.
