UAE jiu-jitsu athletes win three medals at World Games in Chengdu
Saeed Al Kubaisi claimed gold in the under-85kg division after a series of strong bouts against opponents from Portugal, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia.
Mehdi Al Awlaki won silver in the under-77kg division, while Mohammed Al Suwaidi earned silver in the under-69kg division.
Considered a global showpiece for sports yet to be included in the Olympic Games, the 12th edition of the World Games (August 7-17), features nearly 5,000 athletes from 118 countries competing across 34 sports, making it one of the most prominent international sporting events.
Mohamed Salem Al Dhaheri, Vice Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said: 'Jiu-jitsu in the UAE has proven its excellence and its ability to succeed at every opportunity, supported by the sport's continued growth and the achievements of our national team on both continental and global stages. Our athletes have consistently made the nation proud in regional and international arenas, and today's result is even more significant given the presence of top-ranked competitors from around the world. This success is the result of the Federation's ongoing efforts and initiatives to prepare our athletes to perform at the highest level.'
Al Kubaisi was delighted with his gold medal-winning performance.
'I entered the championship confident in my ability to win gold, as it's the natural result of the hard work and intensive training we've put in over recent months," Al Kubaisi said.
"I want to thank the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation for the support they have given us, helping us reach this stage and make our mark at a global event of this scale.'
Meanwhile, Al Awlaki was also pleased with his performance.
'The final was tough, but I never gave up and kept pushing until the last second because my goal was gold. I'm happy to take silver in such an important championship, and I'm confident there is more to come,' Al Awlaki said.
On Tuesday, male athletes Mehdi Al Awlaki, Saeed Al Kubaisi, and Mohammed Al Suwaidi will compete in the open weight division and Asma Alhosani, Shamsa Al Amri, and Shamma Al Kalbani will take part in the women's category.
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