Historic Victory: Sultan Al Nuaimi Clinches First-Ever Emirati Boxing Win at Asian Games
Sultan Al Nuaimi etched his name into UAE sporting history by securing a momentous victory at the Asian Games in China. Al Nuaimi, the first Emirati to accomplish this feat, claimed a second-round knockout against Vanesy Heuangthisouan from Laos in the 51-kilogram weight category, propelling him into the round of 16 at the Hangzhou Gymnasium.
“This is the first win when it comes to UAE’s history in the Asian Games. Alhamdulillah, we did it and now looking forward to many more in the coming days,” expressed the Emirati boxer, a dedicated policeman who is competing in his second Asian Games.
Commencing his boxing journey at the age of 24, Al Nuaimi, now 30, faced an early exit in the 2018 Games in Jakarta. Transitioning to professional boxing five years ago, he remains undefeated in 10 paid bouts, the most recent being a 10-round decision at Rising Stars Arabia in Abu Dhabi.
Reflecting on his opening match, Al Nuaimi noted the contrasting pace of amateur and professional boxing. He strategically waited for opportune moments to deliver powerful blows, ultimately leading to the knockout.
Al Nuaimi’s teammate Husain Al Kandari faced a tough challenge, ultimately being stopped in the second round by Zeyad Eashash of Jordan in the 71kg category.
In another event, UAE judoka Altantsetseg Batsukh came tantalizingly close to securing her third medal in the competition. Despite a valiant effort, the Mongolia-born fighter narrowly lost on the golden score to Park Eunsong. Batsukh’s remarkable journey saw her defeat Sevara Nishanbayeva of Uzbekistan in the repechage contest.
Additionally, the UAE rugby sevens team put up a spirited performance but fell to Japan in the quarter-finals, with a final score of 28-14. They are now set to face Chinese Taipei in the play-off for fifth and eighth place, amidst stiff competition from teams including Malaysia and Singapore.
