The UAE picked up eight medals including three golds on the opening day of the Jiu-Jitsu International Federation (JJIF) Youth World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Tuesday.
Ahmed Al Shamsi claimed the first gold for the UAE in the 42kg division, followed by Obaid Al Ketbi and Harib Al Hammadi in the 50kg and 55kg categories in the U16 division.
Appearing in the age group division for the first time, the Emirati fighters displayed impressive skills to finish the day with three golds, two silver and three bronze in a solid start to the championship.
Salem Al Hamoud (+73kg) and Adnan Al Zarooni (60kg) won silver while Aysa Alblooshi (38kg), Hamdan Al Najar (46kg), and Abdulaziz Al Akidi (66kg) took bronze.
The UAE have topped the medals table in the last three editions and have travelled with a 86-member squad across four age groups.
“While the competition was tough, the feeling of winning today was simply indescribable,” Al Shamsi said after his win over Russian David Piranian, who was competing under the JJIF flag in the final.
“Winning this medal means that all the efforts we poured in over the past months have yielded the desired results, providing a motivating boost. Becoming a world champion means I’ll double my efforts, draw inspiration, give my utmost, and continue forging ahead.”
Al Ketbi added: "Standing on the top spot in a huge tournament like this is a really big achievement for me, especially because I've never competed at this level internationally before."
“We're super happy about this win, which shows how awesome the UAE is. We're proud that we could do what people hoped for from our group of champions. And we're hoping that this win is just the start of the UAE doing really well in the World Championships.”
Mohamed Salem Al Dhaheri, deputy chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, was all praise for the team’s performance.
“They have performed incredibly well despite the tough competition,” he said. “As jiu-jitsu continues to grow worldwide, both the national teams and athletes are experiencing remarkable progress, which intensifies the level of international competition.
“This positive outcome is in line with the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation’s vision to promote the sport globally, as evidenced by our hosting of major international events.”
The UAE enjoyed similar success at the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship in Mongolia in July and the Asian Championship in Thailand in February.
“Their exceptional achievements also resonated in the Grand Prix events in Thailand and Paris,” Al Dhaheri added.
“These accomplishments vividly illustrate where the team is headed to, and we have complete faith in their capacity to amass more medals and claim more titles in the times ahead.”
Germany, with six golds, three silver and two bronze, topped the medals tally on day one followed by hosts Kazakhstan (4g, 7s, 9b), JJIF (4, 6, 14), Greece (3, 3, 7) and UAE (3, 2, 3).
The four-day championships has drawn over 1,100 fighters from 44 countries. The second day will see U16 and U18 girls in action.
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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