Saudi fighter wins historic first Muay Thai gold at world championships

Saudi Muay Thai fighter Al-Baraa Al-Amoudi celebrates winning gold at the 2024 Senior World Championships. (Supplied)
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Updated 11 June 2024
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Saudi fighter wins historic first Muay Thai gold at world championships

  • Al-Baraa Al-Amoudi took the title at the 2024 Senior World Championships which concluded in Greece on Monday

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Al-Baraa Al-Amoudi clinched the country’s first Muay Thai gold medal at the 2024 Senior World Championships this past weekend.

The tournament, organized by the International Federation of Muaythai Associations, was held in Patras, Greece, from May 31 to June 10.

More than 800 athletes from 70 countries participated in the competition, making it one of the largest events in the history of the sport.

Al-Amoudi defeated the 2023 titleholder, Russia’s Igor Bikruve, in the under-23, 57 kg category.

His friends and family gave him a hero’s welcome at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah on Monday.

“Bringing home a gold medal, that makes you proud of yourself,” said Al-Amoudi. “I feel so happy to bring glory for my country and hope it is going to be the start for more medals in the upcoming tournaments.”

On its X account, the Saudi Muay Thai Federation congratulated Al-Amoudi.

The Saudi Muay Thai team bagged four other medals.

Ali Al-Nasser, in his first international competition, won gold in the Para category, while Atheer Abdulaziz, Mohsin Al-Subiani, and Abdullah Al-Dossary took home bronze medals.


Dubai Basketball produce dramatic comeback win over Real Madrid

Updated 06 February 2026
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Dubai Basketball produce dramatic comeback win over Real Madrid

  • The 93-85 victory at Coca-Cola Arena secured back-to-back EuroLeague home wins in the span of 48 hours

DUBAI: Dubai Basketball delivered another unforgettable night at Coca-Cola Arena, defeating Real Madrid 93-85 to secure back-to-back EuroLeague home wins in the span of 48 hours.

In front of a fired-up 7,000-strong home crowd, Dubai once again turned the arena into one of the most difficult venues in the competition, overpowering one of the most decorated teams in European basketball through sheer energy.

The night did not start easily for the home side. Real Madrid imposed themselves early, opening up a lead and testing Dubai’s resilience. But as the game wore on, the atmosphere inside Coca-Cola Arena began to shift. Defensive stops sparked momentum, the crowd found its voice, and Dubai surged back into the contest with renewed intensity.

Dubai flipped the game late in the third quarter, igniting the arena with a relentless run that changed the tone of the night. From there, the home side never looked back. Defensive pressure, composed execution and confidence on both ends allowed Dubai to close out the game in style, holding Real Madrid scoreless from the field for long stretches of the final quarter.

Dubai’s first signing of the new season, Dzanan Musa, led the charge against his former club with a standout performance, while McKinley Wright, Filip Petrusev and Dwayne Bacon delivered key moments at crucial stages. Dubai’s latest signing, Bruno Caboclo, made an impact on both ends, which lifted the team during the comeback, and Aleksa Avramovic controlled the tempo as Dubai powered to another statement win.

Head Coach Jurica Golemac praised both the team’s mentality and the role of the home crowd, saying, “It was an extremely tense game. The last 15 minutes, we found our rhythm and the fans gave us this extra push. Against one of the best teams in the EuroLeague, to finish like this shows our character. We believe we can beat anybody.”

The victory marks another milestone in Dubai Basketball’s debut EuroLeague season, reinforcing Coca-Cola Arena’s growing reputation as one of the toughest home courts in the league.

As the season enters its decisive phase, belief continues to build — on the court, in the stands, and across the city — with Dubai Basketball firmly in the fight for the post-regular season phase.