BANGKOK: The UAE National Team wrapped up its participation in the Asian Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championship at the weekend with a total of 21 medals.
The under-18 team clinched 11 medals on the final day, including two gold, three silver, and six bronze.
Obaid Al-Ketbi won gold in the 52 kg weight category, and Salem Alqubaisi took gold in the 56 kg category. Silver medals were secured by Fatima Al-Katheeri (44 kg), Ghala Al-Hammadi (48 kg), and Ahmed Al-Shamsi (48 kg).
Bronze medals went to Haira Al-Dhaheri (40 kg), Haneen Alkhoori (57 kg), Zainab Al-Mansoori (70 kg), Aisha Aljneibi (63 kg), Harib Alhammadi (62 kg), and Zayed Alhosani (85 kg).
Mubarak Al-Menhali, technical director at the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said: “We focused a lot on the technical side during preparations for the Asian Championships and kept evaluating our athletes’ readiness.
“Their strong performance at the championship shows that our efforts paid off. These results are the result of the leadership’s support, which has given our players everything they need to compete at the highest level.
“The federation’s continuous backing, through training camps and preparatory tournaments, has been instrumental in boosting the players’ confidence and competitive edge.
“We take pride in these achievements and remain committed to reaching even greater heights in future competitions.”
Al-Ketbi said of his gold medal: “This moment means a great deal to me, as it represents years of hard work and determination to achieve my dream.
“Every fight has been a reflection of my passion for jiu-jitsu and my desire to represent my country in the best way possible. Today’s gold medal is just another step in my journey toward reaching the top globally.”
The UAE’s under-16 team secured 10 medals, including three gold, one silver, and six bronze, on the opening day of the Asian championships last week.
Meanwhile, the UAE National Team wrapped up the 2025 Asian Jiu-Jitsu Cup (under-14) with 11 medals, including two gold, three silver, and six bronze.
