Abu Dhabi Muay Thai club finish on top at UAE Youth Kickboxing Championship

The UAE Youth Kickboxing Championship concluded on Sunday evening at Mubadala Dome, Al Jazira sports club in Abu Dhabi, closing three days of competition organised by the UAE Muay Thai and Kickboxing Federation.

The championship brought together 607 male and female athletes from 51 clubs, competing across 96 weight categories and all four kickboxing disciplines: Point Fight and Kick Light on the tatami, alongside Low Kick and K-1 in the ring.

Abu Dhabi Muay Thai club claimed first place in the final club standings with 12 gold, 2 silver and 4 bronze (18 medals in total).

International Gulf Sports Club took second with 10 gold, 11 silver and 7 bronze (28 medals in total), while AJ Stars Academy came in third with 9 gold, 3 silver and 3 bronze (15 medals in total).

Abdullah Saeed Al Neyadi, President of the UAE Muay Thai and Kickboxing Federation, said:

“This championship confirms the accelerating growth of kickboxing in the UAE. The scale of participation and the range of disciplines on show reflect the Federation’s continued work in supporting clubs and academies, identifying young talent, and refining their technical and physical abilities.

“We are committed to putting the summer break to good use: providing official competitive platforms for our athletes, widening the base of the sport, and preparing our national team athletes for the international commitments ahead.”

He added: “Our congratulations go to every club and every winning athlete. The level of competition we saw over these three days speaks to the commitment of our clubs and academies to raising their standards, and we thank all the partners and supporters who helped bring this important sporting event to life.”

He continued: “We are especially proud of the participation of 40 athletes from People of Determination in the championship’s competitions, in partnership with the UAE Special Olympics. It reflects the Federation’s commitment to the values of inclusion and diversity, and to the joint programmes we continue to build with our partners across the country.”

The closing day of the championship was attended by senior figures from the sport, who joined the podium ceremonies to crown the winners. Among them were Ali Khouri, Board Member, UAE Muay Thai and Kickboxing Federation; Carlos Ramjanali, President of WAKO PRO and Board Member of the World Association of Kickboxing Organisations (WAKO); and Omar Badawi, Director of Sports Programmes, UAE Special Olympics.

Established in May 2017, the UAE Muay Thai and Kickboxing Federation is the official governing body for both sports in the United Arab Emirates. The Federation develops the technical, cultural and community foundations of Muay Thai and Kickboxing across the country, while preparing national teams capable of competing at the highest amateur and professional levels regionally and internationally.