UAE 'golden girl' Shamma Al Kalbani leading the way for next generation of jiu-jitsu stars

UAE jiu-jitsu star Faisal Al Ketbi has labelled Shamma Al Kalbani the “golden girl” of the martial arts sport after she secured two bronze medals in the recent World Games.

The 19-year-old finished on the podium in the 63kg and open weight divisions in Alabama 10 days ago, and she is being backed to reach greater heights by the country's best jiu-jitsu exponent.

“She’s the golden girl of a new generation of Emirati female jiu-jitsu athletes,” Al Ketbi told The National of Al Kalbani, who became the first UAE female to win medals at the World Games.

“She has the real potential to lead Emirati female fighters to new levels. She has progressed well and we’ll see a lot more of her if she continues to work, as she has been doing in the past two-three years.”

Those words from the national captain, and the most decorated Emirati jiu-jitsu athlete, is a massive confidence boost for Al Kalbani, who also believes the best is yet to come.

“To win a medal on the first day of the competition was fabulous and to win a second the next day was just amazing,” Al Kalbani, a first year Emergency Management undergraduate at the Rabdan University in Abu Dhabi, said.

“The World Games was a new experience for me as the youngest jiu-jitsu athlete in both my weight category and the open division. I feel I can achieve more if I keep on training as I do now. I’m already thinking of gold at the next World Games [in Chengdu, China, 2025].”

Having returned from the World Games after a month-long camp in Abu Dhabi, followed by a 40-day camp in California, Al Kalbani has had no break.

She was back in training after her return and will board a plane from Dubai, with her club team Baniyas, this week to Brazil for the Rio Grand Slam on Saturday.

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