Egypt’s Salma Khaled Badour of Al Maadi and Yacht Club won Wednesday the gold medal in the singles competition as coastal rowing made its official debut at the 2026 Arab Women’s Clubs Games hosted at Al Hamriyah Beach Park.
The Egyptian rower clocked 3:09.47 to claim the title and secure Egypt’s first-ever rowing gold in the history of the Games.
Tunisia’s Yeldes Othmani of the Tabarka Association for Marine Sports and Fishing took silver in 3:23.24.
Morocco’s Marwa Naqiri of Rabat Beach Club claimed bronze after winning the third-place race in 3:04.40, ahead of Saudi Rowing Federation’s Mariam Kaaki, who finished fourth in 3:24.57.
The singles results followed the doubles competition held the previous day, where Tunisia’s Yeldes Othmani and Walaa Omri captured gold in 2:42.07.
Saudi Arabia’s Al Jazi Al Ibrahim and Mariam Kaaki secured silver in 2:55.43. Egypt’s Al Maadi and Yacht Club duo Mariam Aboul Wafa and Salma Badour took bronze after winning the third-place race in 2:46.50.
The coastal rowing competition featured six teams representing the UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia, highlighting the sport’s growing presence in women’s competition across the Arab world.
The medal ceremony was attended by Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee of the Games; Hanan Al Mahmoud, Vice Chair of the Committee; Abdulaziz Al Anzi, Secretary-General of the Union of Arab National Olympic Committees; Moza Al Shamsi, Games Director; and Annamarie Phelps, Vice President of the International Rowing Federation.
Badour said the competition was highly competitive, noting the narrow margins between athletes made the singles gold particularly valuable and a fitting response after missing out on doubles gold the previous day.
The Arab Women’s Clubs Games are being held in Sharjah and organized by the Sharjah Women’s Sports Foundation through Feb. 12.
The event features 65 teams from 16 Arab countries competing in nine individual and team sports, aiming to strengthen women’s sports regionally and internationally.
