Abu dhabi: The seventh edition of the IMMAF Youth World Championships is nearing its conclusion following the second day of Youth A competition at Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi today. The championship concludes tomorrow, Sunday, after seven days of competition featuring more than 1,100 athletes from 55 countries. The UAE National Team has won 19 medals, including six gold, six silver, and seven bronze.
According to Emirates News Agency, competition in Youth A, the championship's oldest age category for athletes aged 16-17, continued with closely contested bouts as athletes competed for places in the final rounds. Mubarak Saleh Al Menhali, Technical Director of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation, emphasized the importance of the UAE's participation in the championship as part of a development program that starts with local competitions and progresses through various stages of National Team preparation.
Al Menhali explained that UAE athletes undergo several stages before reaching the World Championships, using local competitions to identify talented athletes, then selecting them for training camps and specialized preparation before they compete internationally. Each stage involves performance assessments to determine areas for improvement. The World Championships provide an opportunity to evaluate athletes' performances against top competitors, using insights gained for future training plans.
Giorgi Kabulashvili, President of the Georgian Mixed Martial Arts Federation, expressed gratitude to the UAE and the host federation for their support, highlighting the well-organized event that allowed athletes to focus on their competition. He noted the high level of competition and the significance of every medal won, emphasizing the importance of the championship for young athletes.
UAE athlete Mansour Al Maqbool shared his journey from watching competitions from the stands to representing the UAE in the cage, highlighting the special feeling of competing at a World Championship. He described the focused mindset during bouts and the motivation gained from reflecting on his progress.
Namibia National Team athlete Yordanis Hernandez Sampri described the valuable experience gained from competing at a World Championship, facing athletes with diverse styles, and the strong competition atmosphere at Mubadala Arena. He emphasized using each bout as a learning experience and expressed motivation to continue training and improving.
The championship concludes tomorrow, Sunday, with the final day of Youth A competition, when the remaining divisions will be decided and the final results confirmed. The conclusion of the seven-day event will mark another major international MMA championship hosted in Abu Dhabi.