UAE's Obaid Al Ketbi Clinches 56kg Jiu-Jitsu Gold in Bahrain

Post by : Mara Rahim

The United Arab Emirates marked a significant success at the 3rd Asian Youth Games in Bahrain as Obaid Al Ketbi captured the gold medal in the 56kg jiu-jitsu division. Al Ketbi outperformed Kazakhstan’s Ulikhan Aldiyar with a composed, tactical display to secure the top podium spot and add another triumph to the UAE delegation.

Al Ketbi’s achievement highlights the strength of the UAE’s jiu-jitsu pathway. His match illustrated superior control, physicality and game management — qualities that reflect the programme’s focus on producing athletes capable of winning at continental events.

Adding to the UAE’s success, Salem Al Qubaisi earned silver in the 62kg class after a closely fought final against Kazakhstan’s Batyrbek Abdulla. Despite falling short of gold, Al Qubaisi’s effort was a key contributor to the team’s overall points and attracted praise for its competitiveness.

Following these results, the UAE’s medal tally at the Games stands at 21 medals in total — 9 gold, 7 silver and 5 bronze — placing the country sixth in the overall standings out of 45 participating nations and maintaining its position as the highest-ranked Arab nation at the event.

On the overall leaderboard, China continues to lead with 105 medals, followed by Kazakhstan on 59 and Uzbekistan on 45. Within the Arab contingent, Saudi Arabia sits 13th with 18 medals, Iraq is 14th with 11, and host Bahrain occupies 15th with 9 medals.

The Asian Youth Games features more than 5,000 athletes from 45 countries and serves as an important international stage for emerging talent. The UAE has fielded competitors across 19 sports, underscoring sustained investment in youth athletic development across disciplines ranging from martial arts to cycling and badminton.

In badminton, UAE’s Rayan Malhan extended his run into the semi-finals after defeating Indonesia’s Jin Maharishil in straight sets. Malhan is scheduled to meet China’s Xu Ji Ning in the semi-final, with a win advancing him into the final match.

On the road, UAE cyclist Sultan Al Hammadi delivered a solid performance by finishing eighth in the road race with a time of 2:24:15, competing against a field of 69 riders — a result that underlines his endurance in a demanding continental contest.

The UAE’s results at the Games reflect coordinated efforts by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation and national sports bodies to provide athletes with high-performance facilities and international exposure. Performances from competitors such as Obaid Al Ketbi, Salem Al Qubaisi and Rayan Malhan illustrate the country’s progress in youth sport and offer momentum for future campaigns on the Asian and global stages.