UAE men and women claim four more medals at Jiu-Jitsu World Championship

Day 6 of the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship saw more medal for hosts UAE. (Twitter: @uaejjf)
Short Url
Updated 04 November 2022
Follow

UAE men and women claim four more medals at Jiu-Jitsu World Championship

  • Day 6 of competition saw host nation maintain momentum in adult categories

ABU DHABI: The UAE jiu-jitsu national team enjoyed another standout performance on the sixth day of the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship, clinching four more medals, including one gold, one silver and two bronze.

In the adult competitions held at the Jiu-Jitsu Arena at Zayed Sports City, the team, sponsored by Mubadala Investment Company, improved their tally to 29 medals in total.

Khaled Al-Shehhi grab gold in the all-Emirati final in the 62kg weight class while Omar Al-Fadhli secured silver. They were joined on the podium by Hessa Al-Shamsi (48kg) and Saeed Al-Kubaisi (85kg) with bronze medals.

Praising the UAE national jiu-jitsu team’s performance, Youssef Al Batran, board member of the UAEJJF, said: “We are proud of this generation of champions who shows the highest levels of commitment, self-confidence and lack of fear of opponents, as they take on the mighty rivals from different parts of the world. The willpower and determination of our athletes are unparalleled. They have the uncompromising desire to improve the nation’s medal tally and retain the title.”

Marwan Ali Al-Kaabi noted that the championship provided the ideal environment for both the players and the spectators.

“As the UAEJJF’s partners, we have pledged to promote the sport that is becoming more and more popular among the Emirati community and all over the world. We will not hesitate to provide any form of support for the advancement of jiu-jitsu in the country and consolidating Abu Dhabi’s position as the global capital of the sport,” he said.

Al-Shehhi’s gold victory enhanced the national team’s prospects of retaining the World Championship title won last year.

“It is an amazing tournament. I am glad I could win all five fights today. I feel so proud to represent the UAE in the World Championship and win the medal. I met my friend Omar Al-Fadhli in the final. I want to congratulate him for the top-notch performance today,” said Al-Shehhi after winning the gold. 

Al-Fadhli, who is competing in his first world championship after earning the blackbelt, said: “I am incredibly proud of my brother Khaled for his outstanding performance today; he truly deserves the medal. The UAE is the ultimate winner. I am so grateful to everyone who has stood with us during this journey. I want to dedicate this medal to the visionary leadership of the UAE. Their limitless support is the best inspiration for us to move forward.”

Christopher Mueller, coach of the German jiu-jitsu team, predicted that his team will finish among the top three nations as the competition nears its conclusion. “My team is performing incredibly well; as of right now, we are ranked third in the world championship’s overall medal count. We all work as a team, strive to better ourselves, have fun together, and the teamwork is producing the intended outcomes.” he said.

“As a jiu-jitsu practitioner, I couldn’t be happier with how the sport of jiu-jitsu is growing. 

If you compare the sport with where it was a few years ago and where it is now, you can see the change,” he added.

Similar sentiments were also voiced by the coach for Greece, Dimitrios Marinakis, who praised the organizers for delivering such a “fantastic event.” 

“The Greece team is clearly on fire; they were great on the mats and won numerous gold medals. Abu Dhabi is, honestly, a terrific host city, I’m delighted we came here. We are expecting that the team will do well in the following competitions and win more medals” he said.


3rd-place Nottingham Forest face home defeat to Newcastle

Updated 14 sec ago
Follow

3rd-place Nottingham Forest face home defeat to Newcastle

  • Man Utd win to end Van Nistelrooy’s interim spell; Ipswich shock Spurs

LONDON: Third-placed Nottingham Forest’s fine run came to an end in a 3-1 home defeat to Newcastle on Sunday. 
Forest had won three games in a row to sit just behind Liverpool and Manchester City at the top of the table and their dream run looked set to continue at the City Ground.
Murillo’s towering header from Anthony Elanga’s free kick opened the scoring.
But Newcastle hit back strongly after half time.
Alexander Isak’s fourth goal in as many games began the fightback.
Joelinton then curled in a sensational strike from the edge of the box before Harvey Barnes sealed the three points that lifts the Magpies into eighth.
Arsenal and Chelsea both start the day 10 points behind leaders Liverpool and in desperate need of a win if they are to challenge for the title.
Captain Martin Odegaard starts for the first time in two months for Arsenal, who are aiming to snap a three-game winless streak in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Manchester United signed off Ruud van Nistelrooy’s temporary stint in charge with a 3-0 win over Leicester on Sunday as Ipswich stunned Tottenham 2-1 for their first Premier League victory in 22 years.
Ipswich will play host to Amorim’s first match in two weeks and go into that game buoyed by their first win since ending a two-decade wait to return to the top flight.
Spurs were finally made to pay for their slow starts at home as they went behind for the 13th time in 15 Premier League games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2024.
Sammie Szmodics took advantage of statuesque Tottenham defending to open the scoring with an overhead kick on 31 minutes.
Liam Delap doubled the visitors’ lead in far less spectacular fashion as he lashed in from point-blank range after Radu Dragusin directed a cross toward his own goal.
Spurs had come back to win in eight of the previous 12 matches they conceded first at home this year but this time left themselves with too much to do.
Rodrigo Bentancur reduced the arrears with a powerful header from Pedro Porro’s corner but they fell to a fifth league defeat in 11 games.
Ipswich move out of the relegation zone at Crystal Palace’s expense, while Spurs slip to 10th.
Elsewhere, in Italian football, Atalanta moved level with Serie A leaders Napoli on Sunday after coming back from a goal down to beat spirited Udinese 2-1 and continue an unlikely title bid.


Saudi delegation holds ‘productive discussions’ at global hockey assembly in Oman

Updated 49 min 37 sec ago
Follow

Saudi delegation holds ‘productive discussions’ at global hockey assembly in Oman

  • Event marked 100th anniversary of founding of International Hockey Federation

RIYADH: The Saudi Hockey Federation said on Sunday it had held “productive discussions” at the recent general assembly in Muscat which hosted both the Asian and the International Hockey Federation.

This year’s assembly, which finished on Saturday, marked the 100th anniversary of the International Hockey Federation’s founding.

The Kingdom’s delegation was led by Mohammed Al-Mandeel, chairman at the Saudi federation, alongside Ahmed Al-Jeaidan, vice president, and board member Reham Al-Ajroush.

The assembly provided an opportunity for member nations to collaborate and discuss the sport’s strategic development globally.

The Saudi representatives held discussions with key figures, including Tayyab Ikram, president of the International Hockey Federation, and Marwan Al-Juma, president of the Oman Hockey Federation.

The delegation also met several other international federation leaders. The meetings focused on shared goals for advancing hockey in the region and beyond.

A highlight of the visit was the delegation’s review of Oman Hockey Federation’s stadium facilities, during which the members observed pitch preparation and recent infrastructure improvements.

The Saudi delegation also attended a women’s hockey match in Oman, gaining valuable insight into the development of female participation in the sport and the strides being made in promoting gender inclusivity.


Kingdom’s esports chief ‘proud’ as Riyadh prepares to host 16th IESF World Esports Championship

Updated 10 November 2024
Follow

Kingdom’s esports chief ‘proud’ as Riyadh prepares to host 16th IESF World Esports Championship

  • Event will bring together more than 50 nations

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is hosting the 16th edition of the International Esports Federation’s World Esports Championship in Riyadh from Monday.

The event, which is being hosted by the Saudi Esports Federation and runs until Nov. 19, will bring together more than 50 nations across six major esports tournaments at the SEF Arena at Boulevard Riyadh City.

The championship will feature contests in Counter-Strike 2 (including both an open and a women’s category), Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (open and women’s tournaments), PUBG Mobile, and Dota 2. 

With over 200 matches set to take place, more than 480 esports enthusiasts are ready to participate and showcase their skills in what organizers hope will be a landmark international event for the Kingdom.

Abdullah Al-Nasser, head of esports at the Saudi Esports Federation, said: “Hosting the IESF World Esports Championship 2024 in Riyadh is another proud accolade for the federation in the Kingdom’s gaming and esports journey to becoming a global hub for the industry.

“We are delighted to welcome all athletes and countries to the WEC24 ahead of what is going to be a fascinating and intense competition.”

The championship’s opening ceremony is to be held on Monday at the main stage of the SEF Arena.

The event will include the introduction of participating teams, highlighted by a flag ceremony displaying the flags of each competing nation. Those attending will also be treated to a look back at the history of the showcase, featuring memorable moments, rivalries, and significant achievements from past editions of the World Esports Championship.


Basketball returns to NEOM Beach Games with FIBA 3x3 World Tour

Updated 10 November 2024
Follow

Basketball returns to NEOM Beach Games with FIBA 3x3 World Tour

  • Single-hoop tournament’s new incarnation this year is the top tier of the 3x3 format

NEOM, Saudi Arabia: 3x3 basketball returned to NEOM Beach Games this week with the hosting of the FIBA 3x3 World Tour NEOM 2024.

Thrilling final matches saw Team Miami triumph in the men’s tournament and Bahrain’s Al-Zallaq come out on top in the Women’s Cup. The competition drew large crowds at the Beach Games Hub to witness the finalists secure their well-earned victories.

FIBA 3x3 World Tour NEOM 2024 at NEOM Beach Games featured 16 teams, including returning men’s teams Amsterdam, Hangzhou and Plunge. The presence of recent Olympic gold medalists Worthy De Jong, Dylan Travis and Frank Seguela brought an increased competitive edge to the event.

Four Saudi Arabia men’s teams — AlUla, Dammam, Jeddah and Makkah — took part in the tournament.

The NEOM Beach Games also saw strong women’s representation from Saudi Arabia, with Jeddah and Riyadh teams stepping on to the court.

Following their remarkable success in Manama, where Riyadh made history by winning the Kingdom’s first international 3x3 women’s trophy, they continued to impress by reaching the semifinals.

Jeddah excelled throughout the competition, finishing as the cup runner-up after a close match against Al-Zallaq.


WTA Foundation champions women’s health at event in Riyadh

Updated 10 November 2024
Follow

WTA Foundation champions women’s health at event in Riyadh

  • Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud: ‘We have laid the foundations for cooperation with WTA toward a healthier, more active future both on and off the court’
  • Ahead of the WTA Finals Riyadh, former players Marion Bartoli, Martina Hingis and Daniela Hantuchova called for greater resources, visibility and funding

RIYADH: Ahead of the final match of the inaugural WTA Finals Riyadh presented by PIF, the WTA Foundation on Saturday hosted “Championing Women’s Health Together,” an educational event attended by Saudi Ambassador to the US Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud and tennis legends Marion Bartoli, Daniela Hantuchova and Martina Hingis.

The event, highlighting a new vision for women and girls in Saudi Arabia, and addressing global health priorities such as maternal and child malnutrition, was supported by several regional and global partners, including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health and Ministry of Sport, the Saudi Tennis Federation and WTA’s title partner, Hologic.

“Championing Women’s Health Together” is one of five major development engagements to take place this year since the WTA Foundation launched its “Women Change the Game” campaign in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation this past International Women’s Day.

Panel discussions tackled a variety of issues including the role of preventative women’s health, the lifelong health benefits of sports for women and girls, the global state of women’s health and maternal nutrition, and the goals of the WTA Foundation’s Global Women’s Health Fund.

The fund launched with a $1.5 million donation from Hologic. It focuses on providing prenatal vitamins to at least 1 million women in low- and middle-income countries in its first year. The resources will be directed to the UNICEF-led Child Nutrition Fund, a global initiative aimed at ending malnutrition.

Former Wimbledon champion and WTA Foundation Game Changer Marion Bartoli highlighted global advancements in women’s healthcare while acknowledging persistent challenges.

“Healthy women are indeed the cornerstone of healthy families, vibrant communities and prosperous economies — from right here in Saudi Arabia to every corner of the globe,” she said.

Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud highlighted the tournament’s lasting impact in inspiring women and girls through tennis as well as promoting healthier lifestyles.

“The legacy of the WTA Finals Riyadh will resonate for years to come, extending beyond the remarkable athleticism shown by the world’s top female tennis players this week,” she said.

“By hosting the WTA Finals, we aimed to inspire women and girls across Saudi Arabia and beyond to embrace tennis not only as a sport, but as a powerful tool for empowerment and community building. Through initiatives like ‘Championing Women’s Health Together’ and our collaborative efforts with the WTA Foundation and the Saudi Tennis Federation to integrate tennis into schools and communities, we have laid the foundations for cooperation with WTA toward a healthier, more active future both on and off the court.”

Dr. Khaled Alabdulkareem, assistant deputy minister for primary healthcare, Ministry of Health, said: “The relationship between sports and healthcare is intrinsic, as an active society is a healthy one. The WTA Finals aligns with our national Vision 2030 ambitions to inspire a healthier, more physically active society. The legacy of the WTA Finals, by inspiring more women into tennis, along with today’s discussions highlighting women’s healthcare, are part of achieving our goals.”

Ann Austin, executive director of the WTA Foundation, highlighted the organization’s dedication to community development.

“The WTA is about changing lives through tennis with its partners around the world, and when we show the world how healthy we can be, we empower an entire generation of young female champions,” she said.

Meanwhile Dr. Alaa Murabit, director of global health advocacy and communications at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, said that across the world “women are changing the game in their homes, workplaces and communities every day.

“While they lead this work, it’s essential to make their health and well-being a priority,” she added. “Investing in women as game-changers requires ensuring women everywhere have access to proven health and nutrition solutions, which is what ‘Women Change the Game’ is all about.”