• Chase Gamble, coach of Team USA, with star fighter Eric Cortez. All pictures Victor Besa / The National
    Chase Gamble, coach of Team USA, with star fighter Eric Cortez. All pictures Victor Besa / The National
  • Team USA's Eric Cortez celebrates after defeating his opponent from Ireland.
    Team USA's Eric Cortez celebrates after defeating his opponent from Ireland.
  • Citlali Perez of Team USA (purple) in action against Palak Nag of India.
    Citlali Perez of Team USA (purple) in action against Palak Nag of India.
  • Yevhenii Kabanets of Ukraine celebrates.
    Yevhenii Kabanets of Ukraine celebrates.
  • Ryan Dunne of Ireland celebrates with his coach.
    Ryan Dunne of Ireland celebrates with his coach.
  • Ethan Mayhew of Wales celebrates with his coaches after his win in the lightweight division.
    Ethan Mayhew of Wales celebrates with his coaches after his win in the lightweight division.
  • Yevhenii Kabanets, white, of Ukraine in action during his match against his Estonian opponent.
    Yevhenii Kabanets, white, of Ukraine in action during his match against his Estonian opponent.
  • Mohammed Al Hosani, Secretary General of UAE Mixed Martial Art and Jiu-Jitsu Federation.
    Mohammed Al Hosani, Secretary General of UAE Mixed Martial Art and Jiu-Jitsu Federation.
  • Palak Nag of India is told to go to the corner.
    Palak Nag of India is told to go to the corner.
  • USA coaches watch the action.
    USA coaches watch the action.
  • Yevhenii Kabanets of Ukraine celebrates with his coach.
    Yevhenii Kabanets of Ukraine celebrates with his coach.
  • Marcello Zappala of Italy (purple) flips Tinus Bernard of South Africa.
    Marcello Zappala of Italy (purple) flips Tinus Bernard of South Africa.
  • Citlali Perez of Team USA celebrates after defeating Palak Nag of India.
    Citlali Perez of Team USA celebrates after defeating Palak Nag of India.
  • Palak Nag of India before her bout.
    Palak Nag of India before her bout.
  • Louise Brady of Ireland (purple) defeats Minette Kruger of South Africa.
    Louise Brady of Ireland (purple) defeats Minette Kruger of South Africa.
  • Louise Brady of Ireland celebrates after defeating Minette Kruger of South Africa.
    Louise Brady of Ireland celebrates after defeating Minette Kruger of South Africa.

Youth Worlds in Abu Dhabi an 'awesome' platform for youngsters


Amith Passela
  • English
  • Arabic

The UAE could not add to their gold, silver and the two bronze medals from the first two days of the International Mixed Martial Art Federation (IMMAF) Youth World Championships but they certainly made their presence felt across the competition in Abu Dhabi.

The third edition of the World Youths drew a record 486 athletes from 41 countries, with the UAE making their debut, fielding 28.

Jasem Al Hosani struck gold to become the first Emirati to win a world title in the Youth Worlds, Abdulla Al Darmaki bagged a silver, while Zayed Al Hammadi and Zayed Al Dhabari each won a bronze.

Mohammed Al Awlaqi narrowly missed out in reaching the medal round when he was eliminated in the quarter finals after winning his first two fights by unanimous decision.

“To win a gold, silver and two bronze was a very good achievement for a country participating in the Youths Worlds for the first time,” the UAE’s Syrian coach Sbee Rahal said.

“Our objective was to win a gold or two, and we achieved that. We can take a lot of positives from our first appearance in the championships and return as a stronger team next year.”

Chase Gamble, the head coach of USA, lauded the IMMAF Youth Worlds as an “awesome platform” for the youngsters to cut their teeth in the martial art sport.

The Americans rounded off their campaign by winning two golds, a silver and three bronze on the fourth and final day at the Zayed Sports City’s Jiu-Jitsu Arena on Saturday.

“It’s absolutely awesome to provide the kids a platform to compete at the highest level, and compete under the IMMAF Rules without head contact is super special,” Gamble said.

“This is what they want to do for their life. That’s a cool thing in mixed martial art. Of course, to be good these kids have to really put in their efforts.

“It’s my second year with the national team and the kids with me have put in five to six hours a day, in the last 12 weeks ahead of this championship.

“Some of them have 10-year plans to reach the level of the UFC."

Tottenham's 10 biggest transfers (according to transfermarkt.com):

1). Moussa Sissokho - Newcastle United - £30 million (Dh143m): Flop

2). Roberto Soldado - Valencia -  £25m: Flop

3). Erik Lamela - Roma -  £25m: Jury still out

4). Son Heung-min - Bayer Leverkusen -  £25m: Success

5). Darren Bent - Charlton Athletic -  £21m: Flop

6). Vincent Janssen - AZ Alkmaar -  £18m: Flop

7). David Bentley - Blackburn Rovers -  £18m: Flop

8). Luka Modric - Dynamo Zagreb -  £17m: Success

9). Paulinho - Corinthians -  £16m: Flop

10). Mousa Dembele - Fulham -  £16m: Success

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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

The%20trailblazers
%3Cp%3ESixteen%20boys%20and%2015%20girls%20have%20gone%20on%20from%20Go-Pro%20Academy%20in%20Dubai%20to%20either%20professional%20contracts%20abroad%20or%20scholarships%20in%20the%20United%20States.%20Here%20are%20two%20of%20the%20most%20prominent.%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EGeorgia%20Gibson%20(Newcastle%20United)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EThe%20reason%20the%20academy%20in%20Dubai%20first%20set%20up%20a%20girls%E2%80%99%20programme%20was%20to%20help%20Gibson%20reach%20her%20potential.%20Now%20she%20plays%20professionally%20for%20Newcastle%20United%20in%20the%20UK.%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMackenzie%20Hunt%20(Everton)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EAttended%20DESS%20in%20Dubai%2C%20before%20heading%20to%20the%20UK%20to%20join%20Everton%20full%20time%20as%20a%20teenager.%20He%20was%20on%20the%20bench%20for%20the%20first%20team%20as%20recently%20as%20their%20fixture%20against%20Brighton%20on%20February%2024.%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
%E2%80%98FSO%20Safer%E2%80%99%20-%20a%20ticking%20bomb
%3Cp%3EThe%20%3Cem%3ESafer%3C%2Fem%3E%20has%20been%20moored%20off%20the%20Yemeni%20coast%20of%20Ras%20Issa%20since%201988.%3Cbr%3EThe%20Houthis%20have%20been%20blockading%20UN%20efforts%20to%20inspect%20and%20maintain%20the%20vessel%20since%202015%2C%20when%20the%20war%20between%20the%20group%20and%20the%20Yemen%20government%2C%20backed%20by%20the%20Saudi-led%20coalition%20began.%3Cbr%3ESince%20then%2C%20a%20handful%20of%20people%20acting%20as%20a%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.ae%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26rct%3Dj%26q%3D%26esrc%3Ds%26source%3Dweb%26cd%3D%26ved%3D2ahUKEwiw2OfUuKr4AhVBuKQKHTTzB7cQFnoECB4QAQ%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.thenationalnews.com%252Fworld%252Fmena%252Fyemen-s-floating-bomb-tanker-millions-kept-safe-by-skeleton-crew-1.1104713%26usg%3DAOvVaw0t9FPiRsx7zK7aEYgc65Ad%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3Eskeleton%20crew%3C%2Fa%3E%2C%20have%20performed%20rudimentary%20maintenance%20work%20to%20keep%20the%20%3Cem%3ESafer%3C%2Fem%3E%20intact.%3Cbr%3EThe%20%3Cem%3ESafer%3C%2Fem%3E%20is%20connected%20to%20a%20pipeline%20from%20the%20oil-rich%20city%20of%20Marib%2C%20and%20was%20once%20a%20hub%20for%20the%20storage%20and%20export%20of%20crude%20oil.%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EThe%20%3Cem%3ESafer%3C%2Fem%3E%E2%80%99s%20environmental%20and%20humanitarian%20impact%20may%20extend%20well%20beyond%20Yemen%2C%20experts%20believe%2C%20into%20the%20surrounding%20waters%20of%20Saudi%20Arabia%2C%20Djibouti%20and%20Eritrea%2C%20impacting%20marine-life%20and%20vital%20infrastructure%20like%20desalination%20plans%20and%20fishing%20ports.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand

UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final

Scores:

Day 4

England 290 & 346
Sri Lanka 336 & 226-7 (target 301)

Sri Lanka require another 75 runs with three wickets remaining

Quick%20facts
%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EStorstockholms%20Lokaltrafik%20(SL)%20offers%20free%20guided%20tours%20of%20art%20in%20the%20metro%20and%20at%20the%20stations%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20tours%20are%20free%20of%20charge%3B%20all%20you%20need%20is%20a%20valid%20SL%20ticket%2C%20for%20which%20a%20single%20journey%20(valid%20for%2075%20minutes)%20costs%2039%20Swedish%20krone%20(%243.75)%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ETravel%20cards%20for%20unlimited%20journeys%20are%20priced%20at%20165%20Swedish%20krone%20for%2024%20hours%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EAvoid%20rush%20hour%20%E2%80%93%20between%209.30%20am%20and%204.30%20pm%20%E2%80%93%20to%20explore%20the%20artwork%20at%20leisure%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A
Winners

Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)

Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski

Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)

Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)

Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea

Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona

Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)

Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)

Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)

Best National Team of the Year: Italy 

Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello

Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)

Player Career Award: Ronaldinho

if you go

The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow. 
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes). 

Updated: June 09, 2023, 11:47 AM