UAE tops Jiu-Jitsu World Championship medals table for the fourth time in row

Emirati fighters rounded off the final day of the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship in a flourish to top the medals table for the fourth time in a row.

They added four golds, two silvers and a bronze on the third and final day of the championship to finish with a haul of eight golds, four silvers and three bronze in the Mongolian capital Ulan Bator on Thursday.

Hamdah Al Shkeili opened the gold rush with a splendid victory over Laetitia Boes of France in the women’s 48-kilogram final.

“I am filled with indescribable happiness to gift the UAE with this gold medal,” Al Shkeili said.

“It was a result of many sacrifices and serious preparations I made along with colleagues in the national team. We wanted to translate the support we have got into these results, and I am sure we could do that.

“After the joy, there is no time for rest because the opportunities are many, and the championships are consecutive in the second half of this year.”

Then joining her with golds were Shamma Al Kalbani, the leading Emirati jiu-jitsu female fighter, in the 63kg weight, Theyab Al Nuaimi and Mahdi Al Awlaqi in the men’s 56kg and 77kg respectively.

“Our goals were clear right from the beginning,” Al Kalbani said after her win over Ra Ki-sung of Korea in the 63kg final.

“We entered the arena armed with the highest levels of determination and focus to retain the title. We came out with many gains from this tournament, and our ambition has no limits, as we are thirsty for more titles.

“This achievement will be a great motive for us to achieve more titles and maintain our global dominance.”

Theyab Al Nuaimi overcame Omar Al Suwaidi in an all-Emirati final in the 56kg weight. “We are proud of this great achievement,” Al Nuaimi said. “It was incredible