On an unforgettable day, the UAE won seven medals at the Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan. The remarkable performance on Thursday saw the UAE win four gold medals, three in jiu-jitsu and one in judo. The national jiu-jitsu team secured three gold medals and two silvers, with Khaled Al Shehhi, Ahmed Andeez and Balqees Abdulla claiming titles.
Al Shehhi retained his Asian Games title in the men’s 62kg category, defeating compatriot Omar Al Suwaidi in an all-UAE final. Al Suwaidi took silver, giving the UAE the top two places on the podium.
Andeez added gold in the men’s 69kg final, while another all-Emirati final saw Balqees Abdulla defeat Al Anoud Al Harbi for the women’s 48kg title. Al Harbi claimed silver, bringing the UAE’s medal tally to five.
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Meanwhile, Kazbek Naguchev claimed gold in the men’s under-73kg judo competition on Thursday. After an impressive run to the final, Naguchev beat Uzbekistan’s Shakhram Ahadov in one minute and 40 seconds to clinch the gold medal.
In show jumping, the UAE also won a silver medal on Thursday. Sheikha Latifah bint Ahmed Al Maktoum, Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi, Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi and Humaid Abdulla Khalifa Al Muhairi delivered outstanding performances as the UAE finished second in the team event.
While Naguchev defended the UAE colours with distinction in judo, the nation’s athletes dominated the stage on the opening day of the jiu-jitsu competition at the Asian Games.
“This gold medal is the result of years of hard work and preparation. Reaching the final alongside my teammate Omar Al Suwaidi shows how far UAE jiu-jitsu has come. The biggest winner is the UAE,” Al Shehhi said.
“The support of our leadership and the Federation, led by Alhashmi, has been a major motivation for us. We compete as one team, with the same goal of raising the UAE flag and hearing our national anthem on the podium.”
Al Harbi, who lost to Balqees in the women’s 48kg final, praised the UAE’s jiu-jitsu federation for its unwavering support.
“I am very happy to win silver. Reaching the final alongside Balqees Abdulla shows the strength of our female athletes and how the Federation’s work to develop women’s jiu-jitsu continues to deliver results,” Al Harbi said.
Thursday’s results once again proved the UAE’s position as the leading jiu-jitsu nation in Asia.
Shihab AlFaheem, UAE Ambassador to Japan; Mohamed Salem Al Dhaheri, Vice Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation and head of the national team delegation; Yousef Abdullah Al Batran, Board Member of the Federation; Fahad Ali Al Shamsi, Secretary-General of the UAE and Asian Jiu-Jitsu Federations; and Panagiotis Theodoropoulos, President of the Ju-Jitsu International Federation, attended the UAE’s bouts on Thursday.
Al Dhaheri was delighted with the UAE athletes’ performance.
“These results are a historic achievement for UAE sport and reflect the work done ahead of the Games. Our athletes showed great technical ability, fighting spirit and discipline throughout the competition,” Al Dhaheri said.
“This success comes from a clear plan and the continued guidance of Abdulmunem Alsayed Mohamed Alhashmi, Chairman of the UAE and Asian Jiu-Jitsu Federations and Senior Vice President of the Ju-Jitsu International Federation. He closely follows the national teams’ preparations and ensures our athletes have the support they need before major championships.
“The growth of jiu-jitsu in the UAE reflects our leadership’s continued support and commitment to investing in people. This has helped us build a strong sporting programme, make the UAE a leader in developing jiu-jitsu and establish Abu Dhabi as a host of major international and continental championships.
“We dedicate this achievement to the UAE leadership. Success for our country on the international stage makes us all proud. I am confident the team can build on today’s performances and win more medals over the next two days.”
Meanwhile, Al Batran praised the athletes for their hard work.
“These results reward the athletes’ hard work, preparation and sacrifices over a long period. Their families, coaches and administrative staff have all played an important part in this success. We look forward to more strong performances in the remaining competitions,” Al Batran said.
The UAE now have five gold medals and four silver medals at the Asian Games in Japan.
Sulaiman Abdulrahman won the UAE’s first medal by claiming silver in the men’s 400m final, clocking 44.99 seconds on September 26.
Two days later, Mariam Kareem made history by clinching the gold medal with an emphatic win in the women’s 400m hurdles.
In the final, the 18-year-old broke the Games record with a time of 54.31 to win the title.
Source: Khaleej Times