Latest news with #YouthWorldChampionships
Khaleej Times
3 hours ago
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Saif Alblooshi wins UAE's first gold at IMMAF Youth World Championships in Al Ain
The UAE's Saif Alblooshi clinched the host nation's first gold medal at the IMMAF Youth World Championships in Al Ain on Wednesday, defeating Azizullo Mirzoev of Tajikistan in the men's Youth B (14–15 years) 40 kg final. Alblooshi delivered a composed and technically dominant performance, earning strong support from the home crowd. This marks the second time Alblooshi has won gold at the IMMAF Youth World Championships, having also topped the podium in 2023 in the same weight division. Adding to the UAE's medal tally, Ghala Al Hammadi secured a silver medal in the Youth B women's 44 kg category. With these results, the UAE's total medal count now stands at 11: one gold, two silver, and eight bronze. Day three of the championship marked the start of the Youth B category at the ADNEC Centre in Al Ain. The division continues on Thursday, with more closely matched bouts expected as athletes with similar skill levels compete across multiple weight classes.
Arab News
2 days ago
- Sport
- Arab News
6th edition of IMMAF Youth World Championships kicks off in Al-Ain
AL-AIN: The sixth edition of the IMMAF Youth World Championships on Monday got underway at ADNEC Centre Al-Ain and is set to feature a record participation of more than 1,000 male and female athletes representing 60 countries. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Organized by the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation and hosted by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation, the championship runs until July 27. It is the first time that it has been hosted in Al-Ain. For the first time since the championship's inception, competitions in the Youth D category, for athletes aged 10 to 11, were held, with the UAE national team making an impressive start to the tournament. Kerrith Brown, president of IMMAF, expressed pride in the ongoing partnership with the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation. He noted that this edition is the largest since the championship began in 2019 and serves as an ideal platform for cultural exchange and for promoting positive values among youth worldwide. He highlighted that the UAE has become a leading model for hosting international sporting events, supported by its ambitious vision, world-class infrastructure and commitment to empowering youth in the field of sports. Mohammed bin Dalmouj Al-Dhaheri, board member of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation and chairman of the MMA Committee, said: 'Hosting the championship in the Al-Ain Region for the first time reflects the international sporting community's confidence in the UAE's organizational capabilities. It also highlights the country's efforts in enhancing its sports infrastructure and expanding its hosting map to cover all emirates. 'The inclusion of the Youth D category this year introduces a new dimension to the competition and aligns with a forward-thinking vision to support and nurture talent from a young age. This contributes to developing future champions, instilling a positive competitive spirit early on, and preparing a generation with the skills and mindset needed to represent the UAE on the global stage.' Kyle Wilson, coach of the US national team, commented: 'We are here with around 30 athletes. This isn't our first time in the UAE, as we've competed before in a championship held in Dubai. The level of organization at this event is exceptional. Everything runs smoothly and meets the highest standards, allowing athletes and coaches to focus fully on the matches. We've trained hard in the lead-up and had a good performance today. We're looking forward to tomorrow's bouts.'
Emirates 24/7
2 days ago
- Sport
- Emirates 24/7
Sixth edition of IMMAF Youth World Championships kicks off in Al Ain
Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, the sixth edition of the IMMAF Youth World Championships kicked off on Monday at ADNEC Centre Al Ain. The event, held in the city for the first time, features a record participation of more than 1,000 male and female athletes representing 60 countries. Organised by the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) and hosted by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation, the championship runs until 27th July. The opening day featured high-intensity bouts and a vibrant atmosphere, with strong attendance from spectators and the participation of rising talent from across the globe. For the first time since the championship's inception, competitions in the Youth D category, for athletes aged 10 to 11, were held. This milestone reflects the organisers' commitment to broadening participation and supporting the development of young athletes from an early age. Kerrith Brown, President of IMMAF, expressed pride in the ongoing partnership with the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation. He noted that this edition is the largest since the championship began in 2019 and serves as an ideal platform for cultural exchange and for promoting positive values among youth worldwide. He added that the UAE has become a leading model for hosting international sporting events, supported by its ambitious vision, world-class infrastructure and commitment to empowering youth in the field of sports. Mohammed bin Dalmouj Al Dhaheri, Board Member of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation and Chairman of the MMA Committee, said, 'Hosting the championship in the Al Ain Region for the first time reflects the international sporting community's confidence in the UAE's organisational capabilities. It also highlights the country's efforts to enhance its sports infrastructure and expand its hosting map to cover all emirates. He added that the inclusion of the Youth D category this year introduces a new dimension to the competition and aligns with a forward-thinking vision to support and nurture talent from a young age. 'This contributes to developing future champions, instilling a positive competitive spirit early on, and preparing a generation with the skills and mindset needed to represent the UAE on the global stage,' he stated. Al Dhaheri expressed his sincere gratitude to the wise leadership and extended his appreciation to H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his generous patronage of this global event. He emphasised that such support serves as a powerful motivator for the younger generations to continue striving for excellence and to elevate Emirati sports to greater heights. Kyle Wilson, coach of the United States national team, said his team is participating in the championship with around 30 male and female athletes, praising the outstanding level of organisation.
Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
IMMAF Youth World Championships gets underway in Al Ain
Under the patronage of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, the sixth edition of the IMMAF Youth World Championships got underway on Monday in the Al Ain Region, Abu Dhabi. The event, held in the city for the first time, is taking place at ADNEC Centre Al Ain and features a record participation of more than 1,000 male and female athletes representing 60 countries. Organised by the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) and hosted by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation, the championship runs until July 27. The opening day featured high-intensity bouts and a vibrant atmosphere, with strong attendance from spectators and the participation of rising talent from across the globe. For the first time since the championship's inception, competitions in the Youth D category, for athletes aged 10 to 11, were held. This milestone reflects the organisers' commitment to broadening participation and supporting the development of young athletes from an early age. The UAE National Team made an impressive start on the opening day. Their performance highlighted their strong technical preparation and determination to achieve further success throughout the week. Kerrith Brown, President of IMMAF, expressed pride in the ongoing partnership with the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation. He noted that this edition is the largest since the championship began in 2019 and serves as an ideal platform for cultural exchange and for promoting positive values among youth worldwide. He added that the UAE has become a leading model for hosting international sporting events, supported by its ambitious vision, world-class infrastructure and commitment to empowering youth in the field of sports. Mohammed bin Dalmouj Al Dhaheri, Board Member of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation and Chairman of the MMA Committee, said: 'Hosting the championship in the Al Ain Region for the first time reflects the international sporting community's confidence in the UAE's organisational capabilities. It also highlights the country's efforts in enhancing its sports infrastructure and expanding its hosting map to cover all emirates. 'The inclusion of the Youth D category this year introduces a new dimension to the competition and aligns with a forward-thinking vision to support and nurture talent from a young age. This contributes to developing future champions, instilling a positive competitive spirit early on, and preparing a generation with the skills and mindset needed to represent the UAE on the global stage."
Arab News
3 days ago
- Sport
- Arab News
Al-Ain set for IMMAF Youth World Championships
AL-AIN: The sixth edition of the IMMAF Youth World Championships it set to get underway on Monday in Al-Ain for the very first time. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Held under the patronage of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, the event will run from July 21-27 at ADNEC Centre Al-Ain. More than 1,000 male and female athletes from over 60 countries will compete in what is shaping up to be the biggest edition in the championships' history. Participants will compete across four age divisions: Youth D (10–11 years), Youth C (12–13 years), Youth B (14–15 years) and Youth A (16–17 years). The UAE National Team enters the competition with 57 athletes, following a training camp in Phuket, Thailand, as part of their final preparations. The team is aiming for a strong showing and hopes to build on last year's success, where they finished fourth overall and secured 12 medals. Mohammed Al-Hosani, a member of the MMA Committee, UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mix Martial Arts Federation, said that hosting the championship in Al-Ain for the first time with a record number of participants reflects the UAE's growing stature on the global combat sports map. He described the event as a sporting and cultural platform that promotes cross-cultural understanding and empowers youth. 'The championship serves as a launchpad for future champions and a bridge to connect nations through sports. A series of tailored experiences have also been designed for the athletes and delegations, offering them a well-rounded Emirati experience that blends hospitality, entertainment and cultural exchange. 'The UAE National Team is approaching the championship with high spirits and a strong sense of determination. We have all the confidence in athletes' capabilities to deliver a powerful performance that highlights the progress of MMA in the country,' Al-Hosani added.
