28 athletes from SWS clubs represent the national teams, as national and personal records highlight the emergence of a promising new generation
Driven by a vision that has made women’s sport in Sharjah a platform for empowerment and achievement, Sharjah Women’s Sports continued to translate the unwavering support of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and his wife, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of Sharjah Women’s Sports, into a strong presence on the regional stage.
Athletes from SWS clubs made a significant contribution to the UAE national teams at the Fourth GCC Games “Doha 2026”, helping the country secure 21 medals — five gold, eight silver and eight bronze — across taekwondo, shooting, table tennis, fencing, athletics and archery.
A total of 28 athletes from SWS clubs were selected to represent the UAE national teams, reflecting the role of Sharjah Women’s Sports and its clubs in supplying national squads with athletes capable of competing at a high level. Their presence also highlights the organization’s contribution to UAE sport through a development system that extends from identifying talent and expanding participation to enhancing performance and preparing athletes for international competition.
The significance of the participation extended beyond the medal count, with several performances carrying strong technical value through new national and personal records. A number of young athletes also impressed while competing in women’s events, most notably Shahad Rashid, Alya Khalid Al Muhairi, Fatima Al Suwaidi and Amena Al Loghani, offering clear signs of an emerging generation capable of competing at higher levels.
In athletics, Shahad Rashid delivered one of the standout performances by winning silver in the pole vault and setting a new UAE national record of 3.25 meters, as well as a new personal best, at just 16 years old. The achievement was particularly significant in an event that demands years of progressive training, precise timing, physical strength and advanced technical execution.
Fellow 16-year-old Alya Khalid Al Muhairi claimed bronze in the 3000m steeplechase with a time of 12:08.73, setting a new personal best in an event that requires high endurance, controlled race pacing and sustained physical readiness.
In shooting, Fatima Al Suwaidi, 17, delivered an impressive performance in the 10m air rifle, claiming silver with a score of 247.1 points before adding bronze in the 10m air rifle mixed pair event. Her results underline her growing presence in a discipline heavily dependent on concentration and mental stability under the pressure of finals.
In taekwondo, Amna Al Loghani secured gold for the UAE in the -67kg category. At just 17, she overcame more experienced opponents to claim the title, while Maha Rabee added silver in the -57kg category, giving taekwondo a strong contribution to the overall medal haul.
In archery, Amena Al Awadi won two gold medals, taking the individual Women’s Compound title before helping the UAE team secure gold in the Women’s Compound team event alongside Maitha Al Nuaimi. Hessa Al Awadi and Fatima Al Baloushi contributed to silver in the Women’s Recurve team event, while Hessa Al Awadi also claimed bronze in the Recurve mixed team event alongside Omar Al Ali.
In shooting, Ghayah Al Shehail secured silver in the 10m air pistol and joined Mahra Al Suwaidi and Intisar Al Junaibi in winning bronze in the 10m air pistol team event. She then added gold in the 10m air pistol mixed pair alongside Mohammed Al Kaabi.
Fencing also produced a diverse set of results. Zainab Mousa contributed to gold in the team foil event and added an individual bronze in foil, while Sheikha Al Zaabi secured individual bronze in epee and joined Fajr Al Marzouqi and Lamar Al Nahla in claiming silver in the team epee competition.
In table tennis, Noura Al Mazmi contributed to a silver medal in the doubles event, adding another result to the strong presence of Sharjah Women’s Sports athletes across fast-paced skill-based disciplines.
Athletics added further medals through Mahra Abdulrahim, who won silver in the 400m hurdles, while Alyazia Tariq secured bronze in the pole vault. Fatima Al Baloushi, Mahra Abdulrahim and Shahad Rashid were also part of the team that claimed bronze in the 4x100m relay.
In 3×3 basketball, the UAE fielded a young women’s team that included athletes from SWS clubs aged between 17 and 19. The competition provided valuable exposure against national teams with a strong presence in the discipline. Sheikha Hassan Al Kaabi and Nada Al Jallaf emerged as key offensive options for the UAE, in an experience that carries important developmental value for a promising group that will benefit from further competitive exposure in future events.
Her Excellency Hanan Al Mahmoud, Vice Chairperson of Sharjah Women’s Sports, said the selection of 28 athletes from SWS clubs for the national teams represented an important indicator of the success of the organization’s development system and its role in supplying UAE teams with qualified sporting talent.
“We are proud of what our athletes achieved at the Fourth GCC Games and of their contribution to raising the UAE flag as members of the national teams. These achievements would not have been possible without the tremendous support extended to sport in the Emirate of Sharjah by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and the continuous patronage of his wife, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Chairperson of Sharjah Women’s Sports, whose vision and support have been fundamental to the development of women’s sport and the empowerment of female athletes,” she said.
She added:
“The participation of 28 athletes from our clubs reflects an integrated pathway that we have been developing for years. It begins with expanding participation and identifying abilities, continues through preparation and development programs, and ultimately leads to representing the UAE at GCC and international competitions. What was achieved in Doha confirms that investing in athletes from an early age and providing a structured and supportive training environment helps build a generation capable of competing and contributing to the future of UAE sport.”
Her Excellency Moza Al Shamsi, Director of Sharjah Women’s Sports, said the medal haul at “Doha 2026” also carried important technical indicators, particularly with a new national record and several personal bests recorded across different events.
“This participation gives us an important technical assessment of the athletes’ development, because the achievements went beyond podium finishes to include new records and high-quality performances across several disciplines. A new UAE record in the pole vault, personal bests in athletics, and strong performances in shooting, taekwondo and archery are all indicators that our technical work is progressing in a clear direction,” she said.
She added:
“At Sharjah Women’s Sports, we continue to build an integrated system that supports athletes technically, physically and mentally, linking talent identification with performance development and continuous care. What our athletes achieved in Doha strengthens our confidence in the ability of SWS clubs to remain a sustainable source of talent for the national teams and to prepare athletes capable of representing the UAE with distinction in future competitions.”
The overall results further underline the growing role of Sharjah Women’s Sports and its clubs in contributing to the progress of UAE sport by developing athletes capable of moving from the foundation stages into competition, and from participation to achievement.
They also reinforce the presence of Emirati women across the sporting arena and Sharjah’s position as a strong hub for talent development and a sustainable contributor to the national teams. At the same time, the performances offer a glimpse of a promising generation of emerging young athletes, capable of making an even greater impact in future competitions and sustaining the UAE’s presence on regional and international podiums.
