Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
The UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Federation has announced details of the national teams’ participation in the third Asian Youth Games, set to take place in Bahrain later this month.
The national jiu-jitsu team will send 18 athletes to the Games, which will be hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain from October 22 to 31. Male athletes will compete in the 48-kilogram, 56kg, 62kg, 69kg, and 85kg divisions, while female athletes will take part in the 48kg, 52kg, 57kg and 63kg categories.
Additionally, a bunch of 10 MMA athletes will compete across both traditional and modern formats. In the men’s traditional category, athletes will take part in the 60kg, 70kg, 65kg, 75kg and 50kg divisions, while the modern category will feature the 50kg, 60kg and 65kg classes. The women’s team will compete in the 50kg division in the traditional format and 45kg in the modern format.
The Mubadala Investment Company is sponsoring the jiu-jitsu players in line with its continued commitment to developing the sport across the nation.
The strong representation in both jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts reflects the UAE’s growing influence on the regional and international martial arts scene and offers young athletes an invaluable opportunity to compete against some of Asia’s most promising talents.
Mubarak Al Menhali, Director of the Technical Department at the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said the Asian Youth Games represent an important platform to highlight the rapid progress of jiu-jitsu in the UAE. He expressed confidence in the team’s readiness to deliver strong performances that mirror their technical development.
“Jiu-jitsu has become an integral part of the UAE’s sporting identity, and the Asian Youth Games offer an ideal stage to showcase the progress our athletes have made,” said Al Menhali.
“Throughout the competition, our male and female athletes will demonstrate their advanced skills and dedication to the values of the sport. We are confident they will achieve results that make the nation proud.”
Mohammed Al Hosani, a member of the MMA Committee at the federation, said the participation marks a key milestone in the growth of MMA, particularly within youth divisions. “We have full confidence in our athletes, who are well-prepared physically, mentally and technically,” said Al Hosani.
“The championship provides them with an excellent opportunity to test themselves against some of Asia’s best, while reflecting the Federation’s commitment to supporting and empowering this new generation to represent the UAE at the highest level.”
