Bahrain jiu-jitsu star Ali Monfaradi struck gold in the men’s under-77kg category at the eighth Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship, currently being held at Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi.
Monfaradi clinched his title on the opening day of the competition after defeating Olzhas Nurtakanov of Kazakhstan in the final of his weight class.
Sharing the third podium step with a bronze medal apiece were Won Bin Lee of South Korea and Seiilkhan Bolatbek, also of Kazakhstan.
“This is my sixth Asian gold medal, and what a journey it’s been,” said Monfaradi on social media.
“Thank you to every single person who helped me get here. Onwards and upwards.”
Monfaradi is one of eight Bahraini athletes participating in the continental event.
Following his win, Monfaradi was joined in his podium celebrations by Bahrain Jiu-Jitsu Federation president Redha Monfaradi and other officials.
Meanwhile, his countryman Mahmood Alnajjar, competing in the same weight class, finished in joint-13th place.
Amongst Bahrain’s other participants, Hasan Mahdi came ninth and Abdulla Ali 13th in the men’s under-56kg class, Salman Sultan was seventh and Wahid Mehr ninth in the men’s under-62kg category, Abdulla Khalaf was classified 13th in the men’s under-69kg class, and Ala’a Hasan finished 13th in the women’s under-57kg category.
Monfaradi’s gold had put Bahrain in third place on the overall medal rankings after the first day of competition. They were ranked behind only the UAE, who captured three gold, two silver, and two bronze, while South Korea were second with one gold and three bronze medals.
&uuid=(email))