Emiratis dominate jiu-jitsu at Asian Games

The UAE jiu-jitsu national team continued to shine at the Asian Games, with Faisal Al Ketbi and Shamma Al Kalbani claiming gold in their respective categories on the final day of the competitions in Hangzhou.

Saeed Al Kubaisi also bagged silver with the UAE topping the overall jiu-jitsu rankings at the games.

The UAE jiu-jitsu medal count stood at an impressive ten medals, including four gold, three silver, and three bronze. In 2018, the UAE won a total of nine medals, including two gold, five silver, and two bronze.

H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and President of the UAE National Olympic Committee (NOC), congratulated the Jiu-Jitsu National Team for their historic achievement.

His Highness also commended the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation’s efforts in promoting the sport.

In the Men’s -85Kg Final, Faisal Al Ketbi defeated the Republic of Korea’s Heeseoung Kim by an advantage. It marked Al Ketbi’s second gold at the Asian Games, with his first achieved in Jakarta in 2018.

Al Ketbi dedicated the medal to the leadership of the UAE. “The country that flew into space and reached the top in many fields deserves to be at the forefront in sports. I am confident that my teammates in the National Team, from the new generations, are capable of continuing their achievements in all categories, boys and girls.”

In the Women’s -63Kg Final, Shamma Al Kalbani showcased her skills by defeating Kira Sung of the Republic of Korea. She secured victory by points.

“I was ready to compete for gold in that tournament as of last year, as it was scheduled to be held in 2022, but postponing it for a year gave me a greater opportunity to prepare perfectly, and the Federation, spared no effort in providing us with full support from camps, and internal and external tournaments that brought us to the top of the technical, physical, and mental levels before entering the tournament atmosphere,” added Al Kalbani.