Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Following their historic performance at the Asian Games, the UAE Jiu-Jitsu national team, sponsored by Mubadala Investment, is in Riyadh to participate in the World Combat Games.

The UAE Jiu-Jitsu national team comprises five athletes at the Wold Combat Games: Omar Al Suwaidi (56 kg), Khaled Al Shehhi (62 kg), Saeed Al Kubaisi (85 kg), Abdullah Al Kubaisi (94 kg), and Hessa Al Shamsi (52 kg), all of whom are gearing up to add another glory to the national team’s list of successful international events this year.

The World Combat Games is a multi-sport festival that brings together various combat sports and martial arts competitions, sports demonstrations, and educational conferences, featuring insights from leading martial arts experts. In the event, 16 different combat sports and martial arts disciplines, including jiu-jitsu, will be showcased.

Fahad Al Shamsi, the Secretary-General of the UAE and Asian Jiu-Jitsu Federation, expressed his optimism ahead of the event. He said, “The World Combat Games provide another exceptional opportunity for the UAE national team to demonstrate its mastery of the sport and test their skills in preparation for the upcoming competitions and consolidate their continental and global leadership in the sport. We have full faith in the capabilities of our athletes to excel and bring pride to our nation once again.”

“As we all know, the team has enjoyed an exceptional season, marked by victories at the Asian Championship in Thailand, the World Championships held in Kazakhstan and Mongolia, the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, as well as the Grand Prix events in Thailand and Paris. This presents yet another opportunity for them to perform exceptionally and solidify their global dominance in the sport. I can’t wait to see them step onto the mats and raise our UAE national flag high.”

Ramon Lemons, the Head Coach of the UAE National Team, expressed his confidence in the team. “Our boys and girls have been performing exceptionally well, and I have full confidence that they will continue to do their best. The team maintains a dedicated approach to their training, regardless of the scale of the event, and the World Combat Games are no exception,” he said.

He added, “We have selected a group of the strongest and most prepared players for this tournament, and I have complete confidence in the ability of our heroes and heroines to deliver exceptional performances as we have always known them to do, and we are very much looking forward to adding a new title to our coffers.”

Shehhi, who competes in the 62 kg division, added, “This is an opportunity I couldn’t afford to miss. It’s a new championship, and I wanted to test my skills against some of the world’s best athletes. The timing of the World Combat Games is perfect, which falls just a week before the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, allowing me to assess my abilities against top-tier competition.”

Notably, Shehhi had clinched a gold medal for the UAE at the Asian Games earlier this month.

Suwaidi (56 kg) and Kubaisi (85 kg) will kick off the national team’s journey in the tournament on Tuesday. The event will end on October 26.