There was a palpable buzz at the Mubadala Arena after the Al Hammadi sisters created history by becoming the first Emirati females to win world titles at the IMMAF Youth World Championships.
Zamzam, 15, and Ghala, 14, were thoroughly impressive as they made their debuts at the youth words in Abu Dhabi, raising hopes of a successful career in the sport.
The Abu Dhabi schoolgirls have been in training for a long time and their latest achievement is just reward for all the hard work, believes Tolly Plested.
Plested, the head coach of the UAE Mixed Martial Arts Federation, has no doubts about the potential of the Abu Dhabi sisters and expects them to continue raising the bar.
“I was fortunate to work with these two girls for the last two months and their work ethics are second to none,” the Englishman, who took charge of the national team two months ago, told The National.
“They are very talented and the support their mother gives them is unbelievable. I am looking forward to seeing their journey to the top and achieving their goals of one day making it to the UFC.”
Zamzam overcame three opponents en route to winning the 52-kg final and Ghala was successful in the 40kg division. The UAE rounded off the championships with four golds and as many silver and bronze medals to finish fourth in the table.
Ukraine topped the list with the USA and Tajikistan taking second and third spots respectively in the four-day championships that drew around 650 athletes from 46 countries.
Plested credited teamwork for the results at the youth worlds.
“We had a world champion last year, which was great, and this time to have two Emirati females for the first time ever and two males as world champions were incredible,” Plested said.
“People around the world realise how fast the levels increase every year as these competitions keep growing with more countries involved. These competitions only get stronger and popular and it was an incredible result for us.”
Plested, 41, was overwhelmed by the reactions from the athletes and their families.
“Speaking to them of results, the athletes and some of the parents were immensely proud of what we achieved,” he said.
“I think people have started to believe the MMA scene here is growing and the city is really becoming the MMA hub of the world with UFC, UAE Warriors fight cards and IMMAF championships.
“With the youth squad, it’s been a lot of work in preparing, getting them together from various parts of the country, but I enjoy challenges.
“I enjoy the process, training two to three times a day, six days a week, looking back at the days when I was competing. It was a huge task preparing the athletes from different teams and coordinating with their coaches.
“Massive thanks to the coaching staff and the UAEMMA Federation for the last three weeks in putting up the squad of 40 athletes together. We couldn’t have put on a show without their help and support.
“We are very fortunate the youth here have an excellent programme for jiu-jitsu and other various martial arts. It gives a great foundation for them.
“I am proud with the squad we assembled and what we achieved in such a short space of time.”
Plested has 18 years of coaching experience. Prior to that, as a professional MMA fighter, he was undefeated in nine appearances but cut short his career to concentrate on coaching.
“Coaching took over my life,” he said. “I followed my passion for coaching. I didn’t have the time to do both, fighting as a pro and getting on with my coaching.
“As a professional athlete, one has to be selfish but as a coach one has to be selfless to give everything to the athletes. I had my time as a professional fighter for ten years, and I learnt a lot from it.”
After leaving college, Plested worked as an engineer in the world of motorsports but eventually got more involved in martial arts. He then started to pursue MMA fulltime.
“I started training in karate when I was seven and then virtually trained in all combat sports,” he said.
“I competed in karate as a kid and boxing in my twenties, and then started kickboxing, and jiu-jitsu and judo, in which I received black belts. I began my own gym but closed it to work as a full-time coach with the UFC in the UK and in the UAE.”
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
'The Sky is Everywhere'
Director:Josephine Decker
Stars:Grace Kaufman, Pico Alexander, Jacques Colimon
Rating:2/5
Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
Penguin Press
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Company%20profile
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi
Director: Kangana Ranaut, Krish Jagarlamudi
Producer: Zee Studios, Kamal Jain
Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Ankita Lokhande, Danny Denzongpa, Atul Kulkarni
Rating: 2.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULTS
Cagliari 5-2 Fiorentina
Udinese 0-0 SPAL
Sampdoria 0-0 Atalanta
Lazio 4-2 Lecce
Parma 2-0 Roma
Juventus 1-0 AC Milan
BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
RESULTS
2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
Winner: Najem Al Rwasi, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Ahmed Al Shemaili (trainer)
2.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Fandim, Fernando Jara, Majed Al Jahouri
3pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: Harbh, Pat Cosgrave, Ahmed Al Mehairbi
3.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner: Wakeel W’Rsan, Richard Mullen, Jaci Wickham
4pm: Crown Prince of Sharjah Cup Prestige (PA) Dh200,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Jawaal, Fernando Jara, Majed Al Jahouri
4.30pm: Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup (TB) Dh200,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Dengue%20fever%20symptoms
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Sunday:
GP3 race: 12:10pm
Formula 2 race: 1:35pm
Formula 1 race: 5:10pm
Performance: Guns N' Roses
What is Diwali?
The Hindu festival is at once a celebration of the autumn harvest and the triumph of good over evil, as outlined in the Ramayana.
According to the Sanskrit epic, penned by the sage Valmiki, Diwali marks the time that the exiled king Rama – a mortal with superhuman powers – returned home to the city of Ayodhya with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman, after vanquishing the 10-headed demon Ravana and conquering his kingdom of Lanka. The people of Ayodhya are believed to have lit thousands of earthen lamps to illuminate the city and to guide the royal family home.
In its current iteration, Diwali is celebrated with a puja to welcome the goodness of prosperity Lakshmi (an incarnation of Sita) into the home, which is decorated with diyas (oil lamps) or fairy lights and rangoli designs with coloured powder. Fireworks light up the sky in some parts of the word, and sweetmeats are made (or bought) by most households. It is customary to get new clothes stitched, and visit friends and family to exchange gifts and greetings.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
