UAE showcases mixed martial arts talent with 59 medals secured at 8th Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship

After six days of competition featuring both youth and adult athletes, the 8th Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship has concluded in the UAE, the host country, clinching 59 medals, including 41 medals in youth competition and 18 in adults.

Throughout the event, which took place at Mubadala Arena, the Jiu-Jitsu National Team amassed 41 medals in the youth competitions, including 11 gold, 8 silver and 22 bronze. In the adult category, they secured a total of 18 medals, comprising 6 gold, 7 silver and 5 bronze.

The under-21 competitions saw the team garnering 4 gold, 4 silver, and 5 bronze medals in the Jiu-Jitsu discipline. Aysha Alshamsi (-45 Kg), Faisal Alwahedi (-69 Kg), Faraj Alawlaqi (-85 Kg), and Amaar Alhosani (-94 Kg) clinched gold on Wednesday. Mariam Alali (-45 kg), Shamma Alblooshi (-48 kg), Muhrah Mahfoudh (-63 kg), and Fahad Alhammadi (-77 kg) joined them on the podium with silver, while Sara Alotaiba (+70 kg), Balqees Al Hashemi (48 kg), Alanood Alhosani (-57 kg), Rashid Al Shehhi (-56 kg), and Sultan Hassan (-69 kg) grabbed bronze.

His Excellency Mohamed Salem Al Dhaheri, Vice Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, extended gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, for his patronage of the championship.

His Excellency Al Dhaheri commended the performance of the athletes throughout the championship. His Excellency Al Dhaheri said: "The stellar performance by our athletes at the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship reflects the collective efforts of athletes, the technical staff, and coaches. Our national team champions lived up to expectations. We are confident that this young generation will perform well and will continue their journey of achievements." His Excellency Al Dhaheri also thanked all participants, including official delegations, administrators, athletes, volunteers, and fans, for their contributions to the success of the championship.

Mahesa Arba, Vice Secretary-General for the Indonesia Jiu-Jitsu Federation, appreciated the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation for organising the event on par with global standards. Arba said: "We came here for the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship with just 7 athletes, and our experiences have been really good. We are focused on the youth athletes and hope that in the next few years, we can have more athletes who win medals at major competitions.

"Jiu-Jitsu is experiencing rapid growth in Indonesia. Since the Jakarta Palembang 2018 Asian Games, there have been multiple local jiu-jitsu championships organized in the country, attracting more and more people to the sport. This is overwhelming. We are also working closely with the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Union to bring a regional event to Bali, which I believe will further promote the sport in the country."

Emirati Faisal Alwahedi, the -69 Kg gold medallist, said: "It’s tough to win gold in a tournament like this. I’m glad we could watch our teammates in different age groups and learn from them. Their competitions over the last five days really inspired our performance today."

Aysha Alshamsi, also from the UAE, who grabbed gold in the -45 Kg division, said: "Winning a medal in your own country is an incredible feeling. I dedicate this achievement to the wise leadership, the people of the UAE, and the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, which supported and inspired us to perform well and shine in the tournament."

Abdullah Ayyash, coach of the Syrian jiu-jitsu team, commended the organisers of the championship for hosting a fantastic event. Ayyash said: "Our team is relatively new, but participating in this tournament has been highly beneficial. Our athletes have gained valuable experiences, particularly through their interactions with elite competitors. Being in Abu Dhabi, the world capital of jiu-jitsu, has been a great opportunity for us, and we extend our gratitude to the UAE for its warm hospitality."

Marwa Alshalabi from Syria, who secured silver in the Adults Jiu-Jitsu Contact Female +70 kg division, said: "I am overwhelmed by achieving silver for my country in this important tournament. Our experience in Abu Dhabi was very special; just competing in the UAE, which we consider our second homeland, is even more special. I hope to achieve gold in the upcoming tournaments."

Sungat Batyrbai of Kazakhstan, who won gold in the U21 Jiu-Jitsu Fighting Male -85 Kg division, said: "Winning gold at the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship is a dream come true. I’m so thrilled and proud to have made my country’s flag fly high. But I’m not stopping here; it’s time to prepare for what’s next. Competing against the best in Asia taught me a lot. I watched many games closely, learned new techniques, and gained valuable experience. This journey has just begun, there’s a long way to go."