The fourth IMMAF Youth World Championships, held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, concluded with a dazzling finale at Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Arena on Saturday.
The UAE National Team showcased an extraordinary performance throughout the championship, securing an impressive total of 12 medals, a historic achievement for the team. Their medal haul included 4 gold, 4 silver, and 4 bronze medals, surpassing their previous year’s tally of four medals.
On the final day of the four-day event, the Youth A (16-17 years old) category competition took place. The overall medal table was topped by Ukraine, with the United States in the second position and Tajikistan securing the third spot.
Among the notable victories, UAE athletes Fahad Al Hammadi (Youth A/70.3 KG division), Ghala Al Hammadi (Youth B/40 KG division), Saif Alblooshi (Youth C/40 Kg division), and Zamzam Al Hammadi (Youth B/52 KG division) emerged as gold medalists.
Brigadier Mohammed bin Dalmouj Al Dhaheri, Board Member of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation and Chairman of the Federation’s Mixed Martial Arts Committee, expressed his satisfaction with the championship’s success and praised the outstanding performance of the UAE National Team.
“The remarkable organisation and resounding success of the championship, which we proudly hosted for the second consecutive year, can be attributed to the unwavering support from the UAE’s visionary leadership and their continuous guidance for the country’s sports and athletes. The succesful conclusion of the championship has once again solidified the UAE’s reputation as the world’s MMA capital,” Al Dhaheri said.
“We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Natioanal Team for their outstanding performancesecuring a historic achievement of 12 medals. Our aim is to build on this success in the upcoming edition of the World Mixed Martial Arts Championship, which will be hosted by Abu Dhabi next year.”
“We also express our appreciation to all the administrative and technical staff who dedicatedly supervised the national team’s preparations throughout the year-long journey. We are resolute in our commitment to continue nurturing and developing young talents who will become the backbone of our national team, symbolizing the continuity of excellence across generations.”
Sevara Sadulloeva of Uzbekistan, who won gold in the 47.7 KG category, expressed her happiness at her performance on Saturday. “I am incredibly grateful for this moment. The medal is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and support of my team and my country. This victory fills my heart with joy and motivates me to strive for even greater heights in my athletic journey,” she said.
Mohamed Dagher, President of the Lebanese Mixed Martial Arts Federation, commended the enthusiastic sports atmosphere and the neat organisation and hosting. “The Lebanese national team is participating in the tournament with 16 male and female players, and we came to the UAE with great ambitions after a stage of preparations leading up to the tournament. We can definitely say that these efforts didn’t go in vain, as our talented athletes like Lamar Muhammad and Omar Antar have performed incredibly well, exceeding our expectations.
Dagher also congratulated the achievements of the UAE team and its wonderful harvest of colorful medals, terming it a reflection of the great efforts and work carried out by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation.
Mikheili Meskhi, the coach of the Georgian team, said that the ongoing IMMAF Youth World Championship is the best version one could have asked for. “In the past few years, I have been following how Abu Dhabi has been hosting quite a few global sporting events, especially in combat sports. Given Abu Dhabi’s experience and world-class infrastructure, it’s not surprising that the MMA youth championship is being organised so well. It has truly been a great experience to participate here, with our athletes competing against some of the best. It’s a valuable learning experience as they get to test their skills in an international environment.”
