National Muay Thai Team Wins 16 Medals And Tops Men's Category At Asian Championship

The UAE National Muay Thai Team excelled at the Asian Muay Thai Championship in Hanoi, Vietnam, securing 16 medals and topping the men's category. The event spanned six days and was overseen by the International and Asian Muay Thai Federations. This achievement marks a significant milestone for the UAE in the sport.

UAE athletes showcased remarkable skill, winning eight gold medals. Victorious competitors included Mohammed Mardi, Zainab Bou Hmoudah, Mohammed Jafla, Ayoub Al Barnoussi, Rafi Ramzi, Mohammed Karimi, Imad Youssef, and the team of Salama Al Junaibi and Mariam Hassan in the Mai Muay team event. Their performances were pivotal to the team's success.

In addition to golds, four silver medals were claimed by Ilyaas Habib Ali, Abdul Sattar Ahmed, Yassine Karimi, and Salama Al Junaibi in the Wai Kru event. Bronze medals went to Ibrahim Bilal, Mariam Hassan (Wai Kru), Mohammed Touizi and Abdul Sattar Ahmed (Mai Muay), and the duo of Mohammed and Yassine Karimi (Mai Muay team event). These achievements underscored their dedication.

The UAE team received the Best Continental Team Award during the closing ceremony. This accolade highlighted their dominance in the men's category. They finished second overall behind Vietnam. Mohammed Jafla was honoured as Best Young Fighter in Asia for his outstanding performance throughout the tournament.

The UAE's success is historic as they are now the first Arab nation to achieve such a medal tally and lead in the men’s category at these championships. This accomplishment reflects their rapid progress in Muay Thai since establishing their federation in 2017.

Leadership and Vision

Abdullah Saeed Al Neyadi, President of both Asian and Arab Muay Thai Federations and Chairman of the UAE Muay Thai and Kickboxing Federation, expressed pride in their athletes' professionalism. He stated that "We are proud of the professionalism and discipline shown by our athletes. These results are a testament to early planning and meticulous preparation, which directly influenced our success at this prestigious event." His words emphasised strategic planning's role in their triumph.

He further remarked on this achievement as a national pride moment: "This is a moment of national pride, and a new milestone in the growing success of Muay Thai and Kickboxing as we strive for further leadership in global sports." His comments reflect aspirations for continued excellence on international stages.

This victory not only highlights individual talent but also showcases collective effort from technical staff to administrators within the federation family. Their commitment has been instrumental in reaching new heights for UAE sports globally.

With inputs from WAM