The UAE team achieved an impressive medal tally at the IMMAF Youth World Championships, which wrapped up today in Abu Dhabi. The team secured 12 medals in total, including 4 gold, 1 silver, and 7 bronze.
Zamzam Al Hammadi, a standout in mixed martial arts, successfully defended her gold medal on Saturday. Al Hammadi demonstrated her skill by defeating Xerena Sikes of the USA with a unanimous decision in the Youth A 52.2 kg division. Her journey to the finals was marked by dominance, including a quick victory over Palestine’s Taghrid Akkawi with a submission in just 1 minute and 32 seconds, followed by wins against Italy’s Elena Indelicato and Poland’s Sara Dembinska.
With this win, Al Hammadi secured her second consecutive gold medal, further establishing her as a formidable competitor on the global stage. The Mubadala Arena erupted in celebration as her hand was raised in victory, with her sister, Ghala Al Hammadi, who also defended her gold medal earlier in the week, cheering from the crowd.
The championship concluded with Ukraine topping the standings for the fourth year in a row, while Tajikistan and Uzbekistan took second and third places, respectively. UAE’s Thani Almehairi (Youth A / 65.8 kg) and Saeed Alnuaimi (Men / Youth A / 56.7 kg) earned bronze medals.
The final day of competition was attended by several dignitaries, including Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan and Sheikh Shakhbout bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, along with Kerrith Brown, President of IMMAF, and other officials.
Mohammed bin Dalmouj Al Dhaheri, Board Member of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation, praised the event’s success and the UAE team’s achievements. He highlighted the national team’s 12 medals and the back-to-back golds won by the Al Hammadi sisters as key accomplishments.
IMMAF President Kerrith Brown lauded the event, noting the high level of competition among the 800 athletes from 47 countries. Tolly Plested, coach of the UAE MMA team, expressed pride in the team’s performance and commitment to further improvement.
Al Hammadi, reflecting on her victory, said, “Words can’t explain how happy I am today. I’ve been working towards this moment since I won gold last year. The finals were tougher than I expected, and I aimed for a submission win. I dedicate this victory to our visionary leadership.”
(With ANI Inputs)
