ABU DHABI: Thailand has successfully defended their crown at the eighth Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship in Zayed Sports City with 13 gold medals in several disciplines.
In the adult division on Sunday, the UAE continued their dominance by securing the title for the fourth consecutive year.
On the final day of the adult competition, the UAE Jiu-Jitsu National Team delivered a stellar performance, adding seven more medals to their tally. They won a total of 18 medals, including six gold, seven silver, and five bronze.
Hazza Farhan (over 94 kg), Saeed Alkubaisi (85 kg) and Shamma Al-Kalbani (63 kg) secured gold for the hosts, while Faraj Alawlaqi (85 kg), Bashayer Almatrooshi (63 kg) and Abdullah Alkubaisi (94 kg) claimed silver medals. Ammar Al-Hosani (94 kg) won a bronze medal.
Thailand’s outstanding performance enabled them to retain their title, earning 13 gold, seven silver, and seven bronze medals across various disciplines including Duo-Classic, Show, Jiu-Jitsu, and Jiu-Jitsu Fighting. Kazakhstan secured second place with 46 medals, including 12 gold, 18 silver, and 16 bronze.
Despite competing only in the Jiu-Jitsu discipline, the UAE team earned a commendable third-place finish overall.
The championship, held under the patronage of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, will run until May 8.
The UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation’s Vice Chairman Mohamed Salem Al-Dhaheri praised the national team.
“The Jiu-Jitsu National Team’s victory in the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship underscores the dedication and sacrifices of our athletes and technical staff across all levels over the past weeks,” he said in a statement on Tuesday. “Their exceptional performance throughout the three days of competition culminated in another title win, reaffirming their continental dominance over the strongest Asian teams.”
Chanchai Suksuwan, president of the Jiu-Jitsu Association of Thailand, expressed his satisfaction with his team’s performance.
“Our team has been performing incredibly well. This is all the work we have done over the last few years to promote the sport and athletes in our country, which has brought the desired results. We have high hopes for the youth competitions as well.”
“Jiu-jitsu is getting bigger and bigger every year in Thailand, which has hosted some of the major events such as the previous edition of the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship as well as the Thailand Jiu-Jitsu Grand Prix. We are working closely with the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Union and the Jiu-Jitsu International Federation to bring more events to our country.”
Falah Alansery, coach of the Iraqi national youth jiu-jitsu team, expressed his satisfaction with their participation.
“The Iraqi Jiu-Jitsu Federation is dedicated to promoting the sport within our country, and we have adopted a comprehensive approach to its advancement over the coming years. Our primary focus is on establishing National Teams across different age groups capable of competing on both continental and international stages.”
Hazza Farhan, who scooped gold for the UAE in the Adults Jiu-Jitsu Male over-94 kg category, said: “It’s truly an indescribable feeling to witness our relentless hard work culminate in success. I dedicate this medal to the wise leadership of the UAE, our fans, our dedicated technical staff, and our supportive colleagues.”
Shamma Al-Kalbani who bagged gold in the Adults Jiu-Jitsu Female 63 kg category, added: “We exerted additional effort during training to prepare ourselves to adapt to the conditions of the competition and smoothly transition between offensive and defensive techniques. These techniques have proved invaluable during the competition. This is a moment I will cherish for a long time.”
Phung Thi Hue of Vietnam, who secured gold in the Adults Jiu-Jitsu Fighting Female 45 kg category, said: “Winning gold at the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship is an honor and a significant achievement that will be remembered for years to come. This championship sets global standards for excellence, and I am glad I could be a part of it and win a medal.”