Abu Dhabi World Grappling Championship 2025 Ends Successfully

Photo: WAM

The first Abu Dhabi World Grappling Championship 2025 came to a close today after three exciting days of matches. The event was held at the ADNEC Centre in Al Ain. Many fans and families came to watch. It was a grand and successful beginning for what hopes to be an annual sports event.

Strong Show from Emirati Clubs

Local Emirati clubs showed great strength and teamwork during the event. They won the top three places in the final rankings. This showed how much the sport is growing in the UAE. The first place was won by Commando Group. Second place went to ADMA International, and M.O.D UAE came third. All winning teams received medals and cash prizes during the closing ceremony.

A Truly International Event

This new championship welcomed more than 1,000 athletes from over 60 different countries. Grappling fans from all over the world gathered in Al Ain. The matches were full of energy and excitement, and the audience enjoyed every moment. The event had competitions for all skill levels, including professionals, masters, amateurs, and youth.

Organisers and Partners Behind the Event

The event was organised by International Vision Sports Management (IVSM). It was also supported by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. The championship was held under the supervision of Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro (AJP), which often manages jiu-jitsu and grappling competitions in the region. Together, these organisations worked hard to ensure everything ran smoothly.

Celebrating the Winners

Many important people attended the final day and gave prizes to the winners. These included Sheikh Tarik bin Faisal Al Qassimi, Saeed Al Dhaheri, who is a director at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, and Tareq Al Bahri, General Manager of IVSM. They were proud to support the athletes and honor their efforts in this world-class event.

Statement from the Organiser

Tareq Al Bahri, General Manager of IVSM, shared his happiness about the event. He said that this first edition of the championship was a great success. He thanked all the supporting partners and the fans who came to watch. He said their support helped make the championship so special.

He also said they will keep working hard to organise more high-quality grappling events in the future. He hopes that these events will help find new talent and give chances to more athletes, both from the UAE and around the world.

Building Al Ain as a Sports Destination

Tareq Al Bahri added that one goal of this championship is to make Abu Dhabi and Al Ain known as world-class locations for major sports events. He said they want to encourage more people of all ages to enjoy grappling and take part in competitions. In the future, they hope to make the event even bigger and better, with more athletes and fans taking part.

A Champion Shares His Joy

One of the gold medal winners was Pouya Rahmani from Team Nogueira Dubai. He won the gold medal in the Men’s Grappling 18+ Professional 125kg division. Pouya said he was very happy because this was his first world title as a black belt in grappling. He said it was a tough journey, and winning the medal felt amazing.

He had faced a strong fighter named Haitham Redha in the final match. Last time, Pouya had lost to Haitham, but this time he came out as the winner. He thanked Abu Dhabi and Al Ain for giving him the chance to compete in such a wonderful event.

Women’s Division Also Shines

Caroline Vinhaes from Piramide Grappling Association won gold in the Women’s 18+ Professional 55kg division. She said the tournament was amazing. She liked that it focused only on grappling. Caroline said the event was well-organised, and the large number of participants made it even more exciting. She also praised how the athletes were treated and said she would love to come back to compete again.

A Championship for All Levels

Over three days, the championship had many matches in different categories. There were competitions for professionals, older athletes (masters), amateurs, and young athletes. This gave people of all ages and skill levels a chance to take part. This kind of format helps grow the sport and lets everyone compete, learn, and enjoy.

A Bright Future Ahead

The high number of athletes and fans who joined the event shows how quickly grappling is becoming popular. This championship is now seen as one of the most important grappling events in the region. It is also gaining attention around the world.

Organisers believe that with continued support and interest, the Abu Dhabi World Grappling Championship will become a regular and popular event on the global sports calendar. They hope more countries will send athletes next year and that more people will discover and enjoy the sport of grappling.