Under the patronage of
His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed
bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi
Executive
Council
, the fourth IMMAF Youth World Championships got off to a colorful start at the Mubadala
Arena in Zayed Sports City. The opening day witnessed strong
competitions
in the presence of an
enthusiastic crowd that cheered passionately as their
favorite Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) athletes
took
to
the cage.
The four
–
day event, organised by the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation and hosted by
the UAE Jiu
–
Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation, will continue until August 5, with a record
of
636 athletes from 45 countries participating.
Wednesday
’
s competitions were attended by His Excellency Brigadier Mohammed bin Dalmouj
Al Dhaheri, Board Member of the UAE Jiu
–
Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation and Chairman
of the Federation
’
s Mixed Mar
tial Arts Committee,
Kerrith Brown, President of the International
Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF), and Raymond Phillips, Member of Board of Directors of
IMMAF (Africa).
The opening day showcased thrilling contests in the Youth C (12
–
13 years) divisi
on, highlighting
the exceptional skills and determination of young MMA athletes from around the world.
Following the conclusion of the day
’
s competitions, a coronation ceremony honored the
victorious athletes for their outstanding performances.
The UAE na
tional team had a stellar performance on the opening day of the championship,
securing four medals. Aisha Alhammadi gave a strong start to Team UAE, capturing silver in the
Women / Youth C / 57 Kg division. She was soon joined on the podium by Saif Albloos
hi, who
scooped gold in the Men / Youth C / 40 Kg category. Rakan Alyammahi (Men / Youth C / 34 KG)
won Silver, and
Sara Alzarooni (Women / Youth C / 40 Kg) and
secured bronze, making the hosts
look strong.
His Excellency Brigadier Mohammed bin Dalmouj
Al Dhaheri, Board Member of the UAE Jiu
–
Jitsu
and Mixed Martial Arts Federation and Chairman of the Federation
’
s Mixed Martial Arts
Committee, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to
His Highness
Sheikh
Mohamed bin Zayed Al
Nahyan, President of the UAE,
for
his unwavering support of the country
’
s sports and athletes.
He further extended his sincere appreciation to
His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin
Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Counci
l
,
for his gene
rous patronage of the IMMAF Youth World Championships. Al Dhaheri emphasised
the significance of the support from the leadership, highlighting its crucial role in nurturing young
talent and advancing sports in the UAE.
“
Hosting the IMMAF Youth World Champi
onships for the second consecutive year has firmly
contributed to solidifying Abu Dhabi
’
s position as the global MMA capital. The UAE Jiu
–
Jitsu and
Mixed Martial Arts Federation takes pride in organising this prestigious tournament at par with
internationa
l standards. By bringing together the finest young talents from across the globe, we
showcase our dedication to hosting world
–
class events and provide a platform for these
remarkable athletes to compete,
”
Al Dhaheri said.
“
As we witness these exceptional
athletes display their incredible skills and unwavering
determination, their passion for the sport becomes a source of inspiration for us all. This
championship not only highlights the future stars of MMA but also reinforces
Abu Dhabi’s
position as a leadi
ng destination for international sporting events,
”
Al Dhaheri added.
“
I am immensely proud of our UAE national team for their brilliant performance, and I believe
that their exemplary display will motivate aspiring athletes to further embrace the sport of
MMA
and raise the UAE flag high.
”
Densign White MBE, CEO of IMMAF
, expressed his enthusiasm for the remarkable start of the
IMMAF Youth World Championships in Abu Dhabi and applauded the passion and dedication of
the UAE Jiu
–
Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts F
ederation in developing and promoting the sport of
MMA.
“
It is with great pleasure and admiration that I witness the remarkable start of the IMMAF Youth
World Championships in Abu Dhabi. The first day
’
s
contests
were brimmed with excitement and
sportsmansh
ip, showcasing the remarkable talent of young athletes. it showcases how
the
championships serve as a vital steppingstone for the future stars of MMA, and I am excited to
see how this championship will inspire and shape the next generation of
athletes
. Together, we
are paving the way for the bright future of Mixed Martial Arts on
the
global scale,
”
White
added.
UAE
Athletes Shine
UAE’s Saif Alblooshi, who secured the gold medal in the Youth C 40 kg division, dedicated his
victory to the leadership of t
he UAE.
He said, “
I am thankful to our wise leaders and
wholeheartedly dedicate this achievement to them, along with my coach, my family, and
everyone who supported me throughout this journey. I faced two strong opponents, one from
Ukraine and another from
Tajikistan, and emerged victorious. My rigorous training was aimed at
reaching the podium and bringing honor to my country. MMA is a wonderful sport, and I am
delighted to be a part of it.
”
Aisha AlHammadi, the UAE national team player in the Youth C 57 k
g division, expressed her great
happiness at winning the silver medal after defeating the players from Azerbaijan and India.
“
I
was looking forward to winning the first place, but thank God I achieved the second place and
the silver medal. In the future, I
will strive for the first place, and the important thing is that I
raised the UAE
flag
on the podium, pleasing my family,
and
coach
es
,
”
she said.
Alexis Mariscal, of the USA, who won first place in the Youth C/52 kg division, said:
“
I was very
nervous, to be very honest, but it turned out to be really fun, and I enjoyed
competing
here. I feel
so happy, as all my efforts didn
’
t go in vain. This place is so awesome, and I
’
m so happy to be part
of this championship where I got to meet a
lot of people and make many friends.
”
The competitions will continue on August 3, with Youth B athletes taking center stage, and the
Youth A category on Friday and Saturday.