Post by : Maya Rahman

The UAE Muay Thai national team celebrated remarkable success at the sixth Islamic Solidarity Games hosted in Riyadh, capturing three medals in a highly competitive atmosphere. This event features 3,000 competitors from 57 countries across 14 different sports. UAE athletes demonstrated exceptional skill, resilience, and teamwork, underscoring the nation’s growing prominence in the martial arts arena.

Mohammed Mardi earned gold in the 65–70kg category following a fierce final match. Zainab Bu Hamada claimed silver in the 50–55kg division, while Ilyas Habibali Ali added a bronze in the 75–80kg category. These remarkable performances significantly bolstered the UAE’s overall medal count and highlighted the athletes’ commitment to their discipline.

With these impressive results, the UAE delegation has reached a total of 11 medals, surpassing the 10 medals achieved in the previous tournament in Konya, Türkiye. Currently, the UAE stands 15th overall, with two golds, one silver, and eight bronzes. Türkiye holds the lead in medals with a whopping 105, followed by Uzbekistan with 49, and Egypt as the leading Arab nation in fifth place with 29 medals.

Mohammed Mardi reflected on his journey to gold, describing it as tough but rewarding, requiring concentration and drive through rigorous bouts. He expressed that representing the UAE and waving the national flag was his key motivation. Mardi also extended his thanks to the UAE Muay Thai and Kickboxing Federation, his coaches, and team members for their unwavering support.

Abdullah Saeed Al Neyadi, Vice President of the International Federation of Muay Thai, as well as President of the Asian, Arab, and UAE Muay Thai and Kickboxing Federations, commended the team’s achievements. He noted that these results signify the uplifting status of Muay Thai in the UAE and the unwavering dedication of its athletes. Al Neyadi highlighted that these milestones stem from a well-planned national strategy focused on sports advancement.

He acknowledged the crucial contributions of coaches, technical staff, administrators, and the families of the athletes, stating that their guidance, support, and hard work have been foundational to the team’s accomplishments, enabling athletes to excel on an international stage.

These outcomes mark a significant achievement for the UAE's national teams, creating strong momentum for nurturing young talent in Muay Thai. Al Neyadi emphasized that this success reinforces the UAE's position as a global center for martial arts and aims to inspire future generations of athletes to strive for excellence in the sport.

#Sports News