Fahad Al Hammadi gave the UAE a fourth gold medal at the IMMAF Youth World Championships on the penultimate day of the four-day event at the Mubadala Arena on Friday.
The Emirati overcame Italy’s Damiano Grillo in the 70.3kg division (16-17 age group) to take the home team's tally to four golds, four silvers and four bronze medals and fourth in the table behind Ukraine (9 gold, 15 silver, 13 bbronze), Tajikistan (6g, 2s, 3b) and the USA (4g, 6s, 4b) in the championships that has drawn a record 46 countries.
“I extend my gratitude to everyone who supported us, especially the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation,” Fahad said.
“The journey towards this victory involved extensive preparations to deliver our best performance. Thankfully, the hard work has paid off, and our team is achieving remarkable results. Thank you all for unwavering support and belief in us.”
Mohammed Al Hosani, a member of the MMA Committee of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and MMA Federation, lauded the national team’s exceptional performance in only their second appearance in the championships.
“The evaluation and selection process for the UAE national team players spanned a full year between the third and fourth editions of the IMMAF Youth World Championships," he said.
“During this time, five MMA local tournaments were organised. Subsequently, rigorous preparation and a preparatory training camp were conducted for a month prior to the championship to enhance the players' focus.
“We are delighted to see that the meticulous preparation, selection, and training processes have borne the desired results.”
Al Hosani congratulated Fahad for securing the gold medal.
“The whole nation is proud of him. His remarkable achievement brings pride to us and serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes in the country. Such successes showcase the talent and dedication of the athletes and highlight the promising future of MMA in the UAE, in the region, and beyond.”
Meanwhile, Ukraine continued to impress with Alisiia Stoianovska wining a ninth gold for the country with victory over Frida Vigueras of Mexico in the female 65.8kg final.
“Becoming the world champion is a dream come true for me,” she said. “There is no resting now. I am ready to embrace the next challenges that come my way.”
Ain Issa camp:
- Established in 2016
- Houses 13,309 people, 2,092 families, 62 per cent children
- Of the adult population, 49 per cent men, 51 per cent women (not including foreigners annexe)
- Most from Deir Ezzor and Raqqa
- 950 foreigners linked to ISIS and their families
- NGO Blumont runs camp management for the UN
- One of the nine official (UN recognised) camps in the region
RESULTS
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F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
The view from The National
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Various Artists
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
