Abu Dhabi (Aletihad)
Omar Al Suwaidi and Saeed Al Kubaisi picked up two gold medals for the UAE on the first day of jiu-jitsu competition at the World Combat Games (WCG) in Riyadh on Tuesday night.
The performances by Al Suwaidi and Al Kubaisi in the 56-kilogramme and 85kg categories, respectively, has made the national team hopeful for more to come over the next two days for the sport. There are 16 disciplines at the WCG.
Sponsored by Mubadala Investment Company, the team has Khaled Al Shehhi (62kg), Abdullah Al Kubaisi (94 kg), and Hessa Al Shamsi (52kg) among the medal contenders.
“I am thrilled to have achieved the gold medal, and to add another remarkable achievement to our nation’s illustrious history on the global stage. I am fully prepared to face any challenges that come my way with a mindset of victory and triumph,” Al Suwaidi said.
Al Kubaisi added that the achievements are the product of a clear strategy and an ambitious vision.
Mubarak Al Menhali, the Director of the Technical Department at the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said: “Our champions rose to the occasion, showing remarkable physical and mental prowess during their matches. They excelled against a field of the world’s strongest and most experienced players, driven by their determination to ensure their participation in this tournament would add to their impressive track record, including their recent triumph at the Asian Games.”
Al Menhali also noted that the national team demonstrated their strength and skill, acing their initial test with a flawless record and achieving a 100% gold-winning rate from the two events on the opening day for the UAE.