Today's Edition
KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
The women's jiu-jitsu athletes made a statement when it mattered at the 2026 World Jiu-Jitsu Championships, capturing three gold medals to elevate the host nation's overall tally to 57 at the Mubadala Arena.
Asma Al Hosani, Balqees Al Hashmi, and Shamma Al Kalbani anchored a five-medal performance for the squad on Thursday, Day 6 of the Championships, which are sponsored by Mubadala Investment Company and run until August 9.
Silver medals for Maryam Al Ali in the under-45kg category and Al Anoud Al Harbi in the under-48kg division rounded out a successful session for the host country.
In the under-52kg category, having just graduated with a mechanical engineering degree, Asma Al Hosani had another reason to celebrate after winning her third major title of the year following previous triumphs at the Beach Games and the Asian Championships.
Competing alongside her younger sister Mira, who also secured top honours in her division, Al Hosani balanced rigorous university coursework with intense daily training sessions to reach the top of the podium.
"I recently graduated from Khalifa University, and now I am focusing on jiu-jitsu while looking for a job; hopefully I can manage both," Al Hosani said.
"It is tough, but if you want something, you can do it. Our main target now is the Asian Games in Japan this October, where I want to win gold. We always try to prepare as much as possible through training camps so that we are ready for any competition."
In the under-48kg division, Balqees Al Hashmi completed a triumphant comeback following a year-long layoff forced by shoulder surgery. After claiming bronze at the Asian Championships two weeks ago, Al Hashmi continued her training regime - despite not completing her recovery process - to become a world champion on home soil.
"All the medals make me really proud, but this is so special because I had an injury, had shoulder surgery, and stopped competing for a year," Al Hashmi said.
"Getting back on the podium with a gold medal is something I cherish. Competing here in Abu Dhabi with my family, friends and teammates present made me even more excited. Winning gold after everything makes the hard work completely worth it."
Shamma Al Kalbani completed the gold trifecta in the under-63kg category, navigating three demanding matches to defend her international pedigree following an uninterrupted block of preparation since the regional championships.
"We had been training continuously to ensure we arrived in the best possible condition," Al Kalbani said. "I am very happy to win another gold medal for the UAE. Competing at home in front of our fans gave me extra motivation to perform at my best."
The day's action was attended by prominent dignitaries and sporting executives, including Mohamed Al Dhaheri, Vice Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation; Hessa Tahlak, Assistant Undersecretary for People of Determination and Senior Citizens Affairs at the Ministry of Family; Luis Miguel Hoyos, Ambassador of Colombia to the UAE; Panagiotis Theodoropoulos, President of the Jiu-Jitsu International Federation; and Kerrith Brown, President of the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation.
Highlighting the broader societal role of the tournament, Hessa Tahlak noted that hosting over 1,500 international athletes in the capital serves to inspire local youth toward discipline, health, and personal development.
"Championships like this are about more than winning medals," Tahlak said. "They inspire young people by showing the value of commitment, hard work, and perseverance, while encouraging them to discover their talents. Families play a key role in supporting children as they grow into confident individuals, reflecting the UAE's vision of putting people and families at the heart of development."
Organised by the Jiu-Jitsu International Federation and hosted by the national federation, the championship continues at Zayed Sports City through August 9.
