Post by : Mariam
Al-Faris
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is getting ready to compete in the 12th World Games. This important sports event will take place in Chengdu, China. The dates are from August 7 to August 17, 2025. The UAE is sending eight athletes to take part in this big event. These athletes include both men and women. They will compete in three sports: jiu-jitsu, muaythai, and triathlon. The UAE team wants to do their best and win medals for the country.
The Six UAE Jiu-Jitsu Athletes
Six athletes from the UAE will compete in jiu-jitsu. Jiu-jitsu is a sport where fighters use skill and moves to win matches without hurting each other. The names and weight groups of the UAE jiu-jitsu players are:
- Mohammed Al Suwaidi in the 69 kg category
- Mahdi Al Awlaki in the 77 kg category
- Saeed Al Kubaisi in the 85 kg category
- Asma Al Hosani in the 52 kg category
- Shamsa Al Amri in the 57 kg category
- Shamma Al Kalbani in the 63 kg category
These athletes have trained very hard for the World Games. They are ready to show their skills and fight for medals.
Other UAE Athletes in Triathlon and Muaythai
Besides jiu-jitsu, two other UAE athletes will compete in different sports. Maryam Al Shamsi will take part in the triathlon. A triathlon is a race where athletes swim, bike, and run. It is a very tough and long competition. Mohammed Touizi will compete in muaythai. Muaythai is a kind of martial arts where fighters use punches, kicks, elbows, and knees. Both Maryam and Mohammed have worked very hard and want to do well in their sports.
Final Preparations for the Games
The UAE’s National Olympic Committee is making sure everything is ready for the big event. The Technical and Sports Affairs Department held a virtual meeting. They invited people from the sports groups to join online. In this meeting, they talked about the final plans for the games. They checked if the athletes have everything they need. This meeting helped everyone get ready and confident before traveling to China.
What Are the World Games?
The World Games is a big sports event that happens every four years. It is different from the Olympics but still very important. The World Games include many sports that are not always part of the Olympics. This time, the event will have more than 5,000 athletes. They will come from 118 countries around the world. The athletes will compete in 34 different sports. The games are organized by a group called the International World Games Association (IWGA). The IWGA is accepted by the International Olympic Committee, which runs the Olympics. The IWGA includes 40 sports groups from many countries.
The UAE’s History at the World Games
The UAE first took part in the World Games in 2009. That year, the games were held in Taiwan. Mohamed Shehab was the first UAE athlete to win a medal. He got a bronze medal in snooker, which is a game similar to pool. Since 2009, the UAE has won 12 medals in total at the World Games.
One of the best UAE athletes is Faisal Al Ketbi. He is part of the UAE jiu-jitsu team. In the 2017 World Games held in Poland, Faisal won both a gold medal and a silver medal. In the same 2017 games, the UAE air sports team won a bronze medal in parachuting. This shows the UAE is good at many different sports.
The UAE’s Best Performance in 2022
The UAE had its best ever World Games in 2022. That year, the games were held in Birmingham, United States. The UAE team won eight medals. They won two gold medals, one silver medal, and five bronze medals. These medals came from three sports: jiu-jitsu, muaythai, and freefall parachuting. This was a proud moment for the UAE, showing the hard work of its athletes.
UAE’s Rise in the World Games Medal Table
After the 2022 games, the UAE moved up in the World Games medal rankings. The country rose 10 places and is now 56th out of 101 countries. This rise shows the UAE is becoming stronger in many sports. It also shows the UAE’s efforts to support athletes and help them win medals.
Top Countries in the World Games
Even though the UAE is doing well, many countries have more medals. Italy is the country with the most medals in the history of the World Games. Italy has won 490 medals so far. Even though Italy finished fourth in the 2022 games, it still holds the top spot in all-time medals. This means Italy has been very successful in these games over many years.
What to Expect from the UAE in 2025
The UAE team is excited and ready for the World Games in Chengdu. The athletes have practiced a lot and are motivated to win more medals. They will compete in their sports with great energy. Jiu-jitsu, muaythai, and triathlon show the diversity of sports in the UAE. The country hopes to make its people proud by doing well and winning medals again.
Importance of the World Games for UAE Sports
The World Games is very important for the UAE sports scene. It helps athletes gain experience in big international competitions. It also brings attention to sports like jiu-jitsu and muaythai that are popular in the UAE. The games show that the UAE is growing as a strong sports country. The medals won at the World Games inspire young people in the UAE to take sports seriously and dream big.
How UAE Supports Its Athletes
The UAE government and sports organizations support their athletes in many ways. They provide good training facilities, coaches, and funding. They also arrange international competitions to give athletes more experience. The National Olympic Committee plays a big role in helping athletes prepare for events like the World Games. These efforts help the UAE athletes compete with the best in the world.
The Future of UAE in World Games
The UAE is planning to keep improving in future World Games. More young athletes are being trained every year. Sports like jiu-jitsu and muaythai are becoming more popular. The UAE hopes to win more medals and move higher in the world rankings. The country also wants to host big sports events in the future to encourage more sports participation.
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