Saudi jiu-jitsu athlete Ruqayah Suliman sets sights on world championship

ALKHOBAR: For Ruqayah Suliman, the medal that matters most came only after she learned how to lose.

Saudi Arabia’s 26-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu athlete had already suffered several defeats when she began to understand that improving her technique alone would not be enough. Competition brought other pressures — nerves, emotions, nutrition and the challenge of making weight — that she had to learn to manage.

When Suliman finally won her first gold medal at the Dammam Championship in 2026, the result carried meaning beyond the podium.

“Before that, I had experienced several losses, and I realized that the problem wasn’t my technical skills. The biggest challenge was learning to control my emotions, competition nerves, nutrition and weight management,” she told Arab News.

“That gold medal represented much more than a victory — it was proof that I had grown as both an athlete and a person.”

Suliman, who competes for Al-Qadsiah, came to Brazilian jiu-jitsu after a long search for the right sport. She tried more than seven before discovering the martial art, which relies on grappling, ground fighting and submissions.

“I started looking for a sport that truly suited me, and I went through more than seven different sports before discovering Brazilian jiu-jitsu. From the very beginning, I felt that I had found where I belonged.”

It was the tactical side of the sport, rather than strength alone, that kept her interested.

“What attracted me most was that jiu-jitsu is not just about physical strength or athletic ability. It requires intelligence, strategy, patience, and the ability to read and capitalize on your opponent’s movements. That combination made me fall in love with the sport and commit to it.”

Suliman began