UAE jiu-jitsu team claim 15 more medals at youth World Championship

ASTANA: The UAE’s national jiu-jitsu team continued to shine on Wednesday at the JJIF World Championship YOUTH 2023 in Astana, Kazakhstan, clinching 15 more medals in the girls’ under-16 and under-18 divisions, taking the overall medal tally to an impressive 23. Zamzam Alhammadi, Rauda Alshamsi and Alanood Alharbi grabbed gold in the under-18 division for the defending champions.

The under-16 team had a remarkable debut in the championship, securing six medals, including one silver and five bronze. Haira Aldaheri (36 kg) won silver in her category, while the bronze medalists were Fatema Alkatheeri (44 kg), Ghala Alhammadi (44 kg), Najla Hashem (48 kg), Hneen Alkhoori (57 kg) and Aysha Aljneibi (63 kg).

The under-18 girls were equally impressive, making history with nine medals, consisting of three gold, two silver and four bronze. The gold medals were won by Rauda Alshamsi (40 kg) — who finished her fight with a submission — Alanood Alharbi (44 kg) and Zamzam Al-Hammadi (52 kg). Al-Hammadi had earlier this month captured gold at the IMMAF Youth World Championships in Abu Dhabi.

Elsewhere, Mariam Alali (48 kg) and Hissa Alyasi (44 kg) captured silver, while bronze medals were won by Dana Albraiki (40 kg), Shamsa Ibrahim Alameri (48 kg), Maitha Almezaini (52 kg) and Meera Aljarjawi (+70kg).

Mohamed Salem Al-Dhaheri, deputy chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation and head of the national team’s delegation to Kazakhstan, said: “The performance of the girls under-18 and under-16 today was amazing. They won an impressive 15 medals. This shows how much our athletes have improved and it’s something the whole world can see. The UAE has come a long way in the sport of jiu-jitsu.

“The reason our UAE girls rocked the JJIF