MMA – Bahrain bagged a bronze medal yesterday to complete an impressive two-medal haul in the inaugural edition of the AMMA Youth Championship, which wrapped up in the kingdom.
The landmark two-day competition – the first youth-focused event under the Asian Mixed Martial Arts Association (AMMA) – was held under the patronage of Supreme Council for Youth and Sports first deputy chairman, General Sports Authority chairman, and Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
It took place at Khalifa Sports City Arena in Isa Town, and it was organised by the Bahrain Mixed Martial Arts Federation under the banner of the Bahrain Combat Sports Council.
As a leading event for continental mixed martial arts (MMA), the meeting also served as the official qualifying tournament for the third Asian Youth Games, set to be hosted by Bahrain from October 22 to 31.
Bahrain’s bronze medal yesterday was clinched by Abdulla Qahtan in the under-18 traditional MMA men’s under-65kg class.
Abdulla shared his podium place in third with Iran’s Mahyar Shafaeiabandansari, while Indonesian Gibran Alfarizi took gold and Omar Almarzooqi from the UAE won silver.
Abdulla’s win on the concluding day of the competition brought Bahrain’s medal tally to two after all events.
Teammate Mohammed Adel had also captured a bronze medal on day one in the under-16 modern MMA men’s under-50kg division.
Abdulla Kamiyev from Kazakhstan bagged gold, while Yousef Turkistani from Saudi Arabia won the silver medal.
Four athletes flew the kingdom’s flag at home in the competition. Also suiting up for the hosts were Saud Saleh and Aseel Jasem.
Saud hit the mat in the under-18 modern MMA men’s under-50kg category, where he narrowly missed out on the podium in finishing fifth, while Aseel took part in the under-18 modern MMA men’s under-55kg division, where he too came fifth.
Following all the action last night, the competition’s closing ceremony and awards presentation was held with a number of officials in attendance.
The championship featured more than 100 of the continent’s top MMA athletes representing 19 nations. There were 18 competition categories in all, including six in traditional MMA and 12 in modern MMA.
With their two gold medals, Bahrain were ranked tied-12th on the final medal table along with Mongolia and India, who also had two bronze medals each.
Tajikistan topped the classification with 13 total medals, including six gold, three silver, and four bronze.
Kazakhstan were a close second, winning 11 medals with six gold, two silver, and three bronze, while third overall were Iran with nine medals including one gold, four silver, and four bronze.
The first AMMA Youth Championship was originally scheduled to take place in late June, but due to regional events at that time, needed to be postponed.
At the third Asian Youth Games later this year, MMA is one of the 24 sports to be held.
The mega occasion, which will take place under the royal patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, will mark the inclusion of MMA as an official sport for the very first time in a major multi-sport event.
MMA is also set to be included in next year’s Asian Games – marking another significant milestone for the sport.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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