Mariam Kareem secured qualification for the women’s 400 metres hurdles final at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, according to a report by the Emirates News Agency. The UAE athlete progressed from the semifinals on September 27 as one of the top performers in her race at the Mizuho Athletic Stadium. This marks a key step forward for the Emirati squad in track and field events at the multi-nation competition.
World Athletics profiles show that Kareem, born in January 2008, holds the UAE national record in the 400m hurdles after clocking 56.27 seconds in August 2026. The same data lists her national record in the individual 400m at 52.15 seconds, set earlier this month in Muscat. She has previously finished in the top eight at both the World U20 Championships and the Asian Championships in her specialist events.
Kareem also featured in the UAE mixed 4x400m relay team that reached the final at these Games with a heat time of 3:17.00 before placing seventh overall, an Aletihad News Center dispatch indicated. The squad consisted of Suleiman Abdulrahman, Aminat Kamarudeen, Mariam Kareem and Emmanuel Bamidele, with the latter two also competing in individual events. The relay result came after the team had been in medal contention prior to a late baton exchange issue.
The 20th Asian Games, staged in Aichi and Nagoya from September 23 to October 8, include 49 athletics disciplines according to an Olympics.com event overview. UAE claimed its first medal of the Games with silver in the men’s 400m on September 26, when Sulaiman Abdulrahman finished 0.09 seconds behind the winner. The UAE Athletics Federation president described that outcome as feeling equivalent to gold given the elite level of competition.
Women’s 400m hurdles finalists will compete on September 28, providing Kareem an opportunity to build on her qualification at the regional showcase. The UAE delegation continues to field athletes across multiple disciplines including fencing, shooting and weightlifting at the ongoing edition. Kareem’s progress aligns with the federation’s focus on developing young talent for future international competitions.
