8 athletes to represent UAE at World Games

The UAE is gearing up to participate in the 12th edition of the World Games, scheduled to take place in Chengdu, China, from August 7th to 17.

The UAE will be represented by a delegation of eight male and female athletes, competing across three disciplines: jiu-jitsu, muaythai, and triathlon.

The national jiu-jitsu team includes six athletes: Mohammed Al Suwaidi (69 kg), Mahdi Al Awlaki (77 kg), Saeed Al Kubaisi (85 kg), Asma Al Hosani (52 kg), Shamsa Al Amri (57 kg), and Shamma Al Kalbani (63 kg).

At just 19 years old, Asma has already made history for the UAE. In 2023, she became the first Emirati woman to win a gold medal in martial arts at the Asian Games, claiming victory in the women’s 52kg jiu-jitsu event in Hangzhou, China.

Born in Abu Dhabi, Asma began training in jiu-jitsu at the age of 11 through a school program and joined the national team by 2016.

She was balancing a demanding training schedule with her studies in mechanical engineering at Khalifa University.

Prior to her Asian Games success, Asma secured the 52 kg title at the JJIF World Youth Championships, where she defeated fellow Emirati and teammate Shamsa Al Ameri in the final.

In addition, Maryam Al Shamsi will represent the UAE in the triathlon competitions, while Mohammed Touizi will compete in muaythai.

To ensure optimal preparation, the Technical and Sports Affairs Department at the UAE National Olympic Committee recently conducted a joint virtual meeting with the participating sports federations.

The meeting focused on finalizing logistical and technical preparations ahead of the global event, which is expected to bring together over 5,000 athletes from 118 countries, competing in 34 sports disciplines.

The World Games is a prestigious multi-sport event held every four years and organized by the International World Games Association (IWGA)—an organization recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The IWGA comprises 40 international sports federations, each contributing to a unique and diverse sporting program beyond the Olympic Games.

Since the UAE’s debut at the 8th edition of the World Games in 2009 in Taiwan where Mohamed Shehab secured a bronze medal in snooker, the country has earned a total of 12 medals in the event’s history.

Faisal Al Ketbi, a member of the national jiu-jitsu team, won both gold and silver medals in the 10th edition held in Poland in 2017.

The national air sports team also added a bronze medal in the mixed category of parachuting at the same edition.

The UAE’s best-ever performance came in the previous edition in 2022, held in Birmingham, United States, where the delegation secured a record eight medals: two gold, one silver, and five bronze. The medals came in jiu-jitsu, muaythai, and freefall parachuting.

Following the 11th edition in Birmingham, the UAE rose 10 places in the all-time World Games medals table to 56th place out of 101 participating countries.