UAE national team swimmer Hussain Shawqi captured the gold medal in the 50m butterfly with a time of 24.73 seconds, setting a new record for the event in the history of the Asian Youth Games. He finished 0.24 seconds ahead of Hong Kong’s Lau Kin James, who secured the silver medal with a time of 24.97 seconds, while Wu Chao-Si of Chinese Taipei claimed the bronze, finishing third in 25.05 seconds. In an exceptional feat achieved in under 24 hours, Hussain Shawqi competed in three finals at the Asian Youth Games in Bahrain, maintaining his impressive streak of success. He had also qualified for the 50m butterfly final with a time of 25.16 seconds, finishing 0.42 seconds ahead of his nearest rival, before going on to claim the bronze medal in the 50m freestyle. With this victory, the UAE’s medal tally rose to 19 medals — 8 gold, 6 silver, and 5 bronze — placing the nation sixth overall and first among Arab countries. Head Coach of the UAE National Swimming Team, Marwan Al Hattawi, expressed his delight at the achievement of gold medallist Hussain Shawqi and the exceptional level he displayed throughout all events at the Games. He explained that preparations for the Asian Youth Games had been carried out effectively, beginning on 20 June, when swimmers eligible by age category were first selected. Golden champion Hussain Shawqi affirmed that true achievement stems from discipline, dedication, and commitment in training, as well as from making the most of every opportunity. “My deepest thanks to the Ministry of Sports, the National Olympic Committee, and the UAE Aquatic Sports Federation,” he added. “Their collective efforts have led to this remarkable success — and what lies ahead promises to be even greater in future international competitions.”
