Fazza Freediving Championship 'Al Hayari' Concludes With Impressive Performances And Record Participation

The Fazza Freediving Championship "Al Hayari" recently concluded its 18th edition at Deep Dive Dubai, the deepest swimming pool globally. This year's event saw a record turnout, with 84 athletes from 21 countries participating. Organised by the Fazza Championships Department under the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Centre, the championship showcased impressive performances across various categories.

In the professional category, Serbian athlete Branko Petrovic retained his title by holding his breath underwater for an astounding 8:41 minutes. Following him were Mateusz Malina from Poland with a time of 8:18 minutes and Croatia's Goran Kolak, who secured third place with 8:15 minutes.

The competition also featured a category for UAE nationals and GCC participants. Ibrahim Salem Al Sulaitni from Oman emerged victorious with a time of 7:21 minutes. He was followed by Kuwait's Hassan Ali Al Sharrah at 6:32 minutes, while Abdullah Salem Al Mansouri from the UAE claimed third place with a time of 6:17 minutes.

Young Emiratis dominated the junior category for UAE and GCC nationals. Mansour Abdullah Al Yaaroubi took first place with a time of 2:44 minutes. Ali Mohammed Al Marzouqi came in second at 2:19 minutes, and Ahmed Mohammed Al Marzouqi finished third with a time of 1:54 minutes.

Rashed Hareb Al Khasouni, Director of the Fazza Championships Department, highlighted the championship's growing global recognition in traditional sports. "This reflects the prominent position the championship has attained on the global map of traditional sports," he said.

Abdullah Hamdan bin Dalmook, CEO of the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Centre, announced plans to introduce a dedicated heat for Emirati nationals in next year's championship edition. This initiative aims to further encourage local participation and talent development within the sport.

The event's success underscores its significance in promoting freediving as a competitive sport while fostering cultural heritage through traditional sporting events. The diverse participation and remarkable performances have set high expectations for future editions of this prestigious championship.

With inputs from WAM