UAE win four medals at Asian MMA Youth Championship

The UAE National Team delivered a strong performance at the first-ever Asian Mixed Martial Arts (AMMA) Youth Championship, held under the supervision of the Asian MMA Association at Khalifa Sports City in Bahrain.

Competing against top young talents from across Asia, the team secured four medals —one gold, two silver, and one bronze. Despite fielding only five athletes, the team finished fourth in the overall national team rankings.

The event marked the first continental youth championship for the sport, highlighting the rapid growth of combat sports across Asia.

The championship also provided athletes with valuable experience ahead of the Asian Youth Games set to take place in October.

The UAE’s medal haul was led by Omar Alraeesi, who captured gold in the under-18 Traditional MMA men’s -60kg division. The two silver medals came through Abdulla Aldarmaki in the under-18 Modern MMA men’s -50kg category and Omar Almarzooqi in the under-18 Traditional MMA men’s -65kg division, while Ahmad Abdulraheem secured bronze in the under-18 Modern MMA men’s -65kg class.

Mohammed Al Hosani, a member of the MMA Committee of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation, praised the athletes for their achievement. “This is a proud moment for the UAE and a testament to the hard work of our young athletes. Their performance in the tournament reflects the growth of mixed martial arts in our country and strengthens our commitment to developing the sport at the grassroots level and to developing talent across age groups.

“We see this as an important step towards preparing our athletes for bigger continental and global stages,” he said.

“The team’s success at the AMMA Youth Championship motivates us to exert maximum efforts for upcoming continental competitions and enhances our chances of reaching the podium at the Asian Youth Games in Bahrain,” he added.

Gold medallist Omar Alraeesi added: “Participating in the first Asian Youth Championship and reaching the podium reflects the importance of the achievement and the great efforts made by the players in the face of strong competition.

“I dedicate this gold medal to our beloved country, its wise leadership and people, and I look forward to representing the UAE again in the Asian Youth Games.”

Bahrain will host the third edition of the Asian Youth Games from October 22 to 31, welcoming over 2,000 young athletes aged 14 to 17 from 45 countries across the continent.

Organised in less than a year following the withdrawal of the original host Uzbekistan, the Asian Youth Games will feature 21 sports and 26 disciplines, with 207 events planned.

The UAE national youth team recently made a significant impact, securing 13 medals across gold, silver, and bronze categories at the sixth edition of the IMMAF Youth World Championships held in Al Ain.