- Five-Medal Haul Lifts UAE’s Overall Tally to 57 as Adult Competition Begins
ABU DHABI: The United Arab Emirates made a commanding start to the Adult division of the 2026 Jiu-Jitsu World Championship, with its women athletes securing three gold and two silver medals on Thursday at the Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi.
The outstanding performance raised the UAE National Team’s overall medal tally to 57, reinforcing the country’s status as one of the world’s leading jiu-jitsu nations.
Hosted by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation in cooperation with the Jiu-Jitsu International Federation (JJIF), the championship has attracted more than 1,500 athletes from across the globe and will continue through August 9.
Three UAE Champions Crowned
The UAE’s gold medals were won by:
- Asma Al-Hosani in the Under-52 kg category.
- Balqees Al-Hashmi in the Under-48 kg division.
- Shamma Al-Kalbani in the Under-63 kg category.
The medal tally was further strengthened by silver-medal performances from:
- Maryam Al-Ali in the Under-45 kg category.
- Al-Anoud Al-Harbi in the Under-48 kg division.
- Federation Praises Growth of UAE Women’s Jiu-Jitsu
Yousef Abdullah Al-Batran, Board Member of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation, praised the team’s remarkable achievements, describing them as a reflection of the rapid progress of women’s jiu-jitsu in the country.
“Our athletes demonstrated the remarkable development of women’s jiu-jitsu in the UAE,” Al-Batran said. “They competed with confidence against some of the world’s strongest competitors in one of the highest-level international championships. These medals are particularly significant because they were earned in the highly competitive Adult division.”
He emphasized that the federation’s vision extends beyond winning medals.
“Our ambition is not only to achieve podium finishes but also to further strengthen the UAE’s position as a global leader in jiu-jitsu. We hope these achievements will inspire our athletes to reach even greater heights in the future.”
Al-Kalbani Credits Intensive Preparation
Gold medallist Shamma Al-Kalbani attributed her success to rigorous preparation following the recent Asian Championship.
“I had three challenging matches today, and thankfully I managed to win all of them,” she said. “We have trained continuously since the Asian Championship two weeks ago to ensure we arrived at the World Championship in peak condition.”
She added that competing before home supporters provided additional inspiration.
“Winning another gold medal for the UAE on home soil is a wonderful feeling. The support of our fans gave me extra motivation to deliver my best performance.”
Al-Hosani Dedicates Victory to UAE Leadership
Following her triumph, Asma Al-Hosani dedicated her gold medal to President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as well as to her family and the people of the UAE.
“Winning in front of our home crowd makes this achievement even more meaningful,” she said. “It motivates me to continue working hard and striving for even greater success for my country.”
Men’s Competition Begins Friday
The championship continues on Friday with the start of the Adult Men’s division, where the UAE National Team will aim to continue its impressive campaign and pursue a seventh consecutive world championship title.
BY: Nadeem Faisal Baiga
