Faisal Al-Ketbi and Balqees Al-Hashemi strike gold for UAE at Jiu-Jitsu World Championships

ULAANBAATAR: The UAE’s top grapplers kicked off their campaign at the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship by capturing four medals, including two gold, one silver, and one bronze, on day one of the competition in Mongolia.

The championship is taking place in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar and will continue until July 20.

Balqees Al-Hashemi gave the UAE a strong start on Tuesday by winning gold in the women’s 45 kg division and she was soon followed on the podium by Faisal Al-Ketbi, who secured gold in the men’s 94 kg category.

Saeed Al-Kubaisi won the silver medal in the 85 kg category, and Aisha Al-Shamsi won the bronze medal in the 45 kg division, solidifying the UAE’s pursuit of retaining the title.

Fahad Ali Al-Shamsi, secretary general of the UAE and Asian jiu-jitsu federations and head of the UAE national team delegation at the tournament, praised the athletes.

“The number of medals today is a reason for optimism in our pursuit of retaining the title,” he said. “The male and female fighters delivered a wonderful performance, with Balqees Al-Hashemi standing out as she made history by becoming the first female UAE champion to win gold in the adult category in the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship. These results showcase the federation’s success strategy in uncovering talents and nurturing champions with the highest international standards.”

“The team had a promising start in the tournament and we are optimistic about our athletes’ ability to continue improving their performance in the upcoming competitions over the next two days,” Al-Shamsi added. “The dedication and hard work of the athletes, under the guidance of the technical and administrative staff, are decisive factors as we strive to reach new heights and