Faisal Al Ketbi dedicates jiu-jitsu World Games medals to Sheikh Mohamed and UAE leaders

UAE's Faisal Al Ketbi completed a jiu-jitsu golden double at the World Games in Birmingham, Alabama, on Saturday to take his overall tally in the quadrennial event to three golds and a silver.

Having struck gold in the 85kg division on Friday, Al Ketbi won his second title following victory over Moroccan Seif Eddine Houmne in the open weight final. He thus added to the gold and silver he won in the 2017 World Games in Poland.

Al Ketbi, 34, dedicated his success at the Games to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed, the main patron of the martial arts sport in the country.

“This is for His Highness for his unstinted support, contributions and vision to promote jiu-jitsu,” Al Ketbi told The National.

“It has been two long days of work but very satisfying result. To win two golds in two different divisions was a great result for my country and me. We arrived in California a month ahead for a camp and it has paid off.

“As a five-member team, we have done extremely well to return with two golds, a silver and two bronze.”

Shamma Al Kalbani, 19, bagged her second bronze of the Games with victory over Kazakh Galina Duvanova in the open weight, in which Meshy Rosenfield of Israel defeated Ukrainian Bogdana Golub in the final. Al Kalbani had earlier become the first Emirati female to win a medal at the Games.

The UAE contingent finished joint fourth with France in the medals table, behind Germany and Israel in joint first, and Thailand in third.

Al Ketbi overcame Maciej Kozak of Poland and Israeli Saar Shemesh, both by points, to reach the final.

Emirati Mohammed Al Amri narrowly missed out on a podium finish when he lost to Shemesh by points in the bronze match.

“I have been in the world jiu-jitsu circuit for a while now and perhaps the