emirates7 - The UAE is participating in the 12th edition of the World Games, taking place in Chengdu, China, from August 7 to 17. The Emirati delegation consists of eight male and female athletes competing in three disciplines: jiu-jitsu, muaythai, and triathlon.
The national jiu-jitsu team features six athletes: Mohammed Al Suwaidi (69 kg), Mahdi Al Awlaki (77 kg), Saeed Al Kubaisi (85 kg), Asma Al Hosani (52 kg), Shamsa Al Amri (57 kg), and Shamma Al Kalbani (63 kg). In addition, Maryam Al Shamsi will represent the UAE in triathlon, while Mohammed Touizi will compete in muaythai.
Ahead of the event, the National Olympic Committee’s Technical and Sports Affairs Department held a virtual meeting with the participating sports federations to finalize preparations. The World Games will welcome over 5,000 athletes from 118 countries, competing across 34 sports.
Held every four years, the World Games are organized by the International World Games Association (IWGA), which is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and made up of 40 international sports federations.
The UAE first participated in the World Games in 2009 during the 8th edition in Taiwan, where Mohamed Shehab claimed a bronze medal in snooker. Since then, Emirati athletes have earned 12 medals in the event’s history. Among the standout performances was Faisal Al Ketbi’s gold and silver medal wins in jiu-jitsu at the 2017 edition in Poland, along with a bronze secured by the air sports team in parachuting.
The UAE’s most successful outing came in the 2022 edition in Birmingham, USA, where the delegation won a record total of eight medals: two gold, one silver, and five bronze, across jiu-jitsu, muaythai, and freefall parachuting.
That performance propelled the UAE up 10 spots in the all-time World Games medals table, placing them 56th out of 101 countries. Despite finishing fourth in 2022 with 49 medals, Italy remained at the top of the overall standings with a cumulative total of 490 medals.
The national jiu-jitsu team features six athletes: Mohammed Al Suwaidi (69 kg), Mahdi Al Awlaki (77 kg), Saeed Al Kubaisi (85 kg), Asma Al Hosani (52 kg), Shamsa Al Amri (57 kg), and Shamma Al Kalbani (63 kg). In addition, Maryam Al Shamsi will represent the UAE in triathlon, while Mohammed Touizi will compete in muaythai.
Ahead of the event, the National Olympic Committee’s Technical and Sports Affairs Department held a virtual meeting with the participating sports federations to finalize preparations. The World Games will welcome over 5,000 athletes from 118 countries, competing across 34 sports.
Held every four years, the World Games are organized by the International World Games Association (IWGA), which is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and made up of 40 international sports federations.
The UAE first participated in the World Games in 2009 during the 8th edition in Taiwan, where Mohamed Shehab claimed a bronze medal in snooker. Since then, Emirati athletes have earned 12 medals in the event’s history. Among the standout performances was Faisal Al Ketbi’s gold and silver medal wins in jiu-jitsu at the 2017 edition in Poland, along with a bronze secured by the air sports team in parachuting.
The UAE’s most successful outing came in the 2022 edition in Birmingham, USA, where the delegation won a record total of eight medals: two gold, one silver, and five bronze, across jiu-jitsu, muaythai, and freefall parachuting.
That performance propelled the UAE up 10 spots in the all-time World Games medals table, placing them 56th out of 101 countries. Despite finishing fourth in 2022 with 49 medals, Italy remained at the top of the overall standings with a cumulative total of 490 medals.