The UAE national jiu-jitsu team claimed three gold medals and two silvers on Thursday at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan, lifting the country's overall jiu-jitsu medal tally to seven — four gold and three silver.
Khaled Al Shehhi successfully defended his Asian Games title in the men's 62kg category, defeating fellow Emirati Omar Al Suwaidi in an all-UAE final. Ahmed Andeez added another gold in the men's 69kg division.
In the women's competition, Balqees Abdulla won gold in the 48kg category, also in an all-Emirati final, beating compatriot Al Anoud Al Harbi, who took the silver medal.
The day was notable for producing two finals contested entirely between UAE athletes, underscoring the depth of the national jiu-jitsu programme at the continental level. The UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation credited the results to years of structured development and grassroots investment in the sport.
Jiu-jitsu, rooted in traditional martial arts, has grown into one of the UAE's strongest international disciplines in recent years, buoyed by sustained backing — particularly from Abu Dhabi, which regularly hosts world jiu-jitsu championships that have helped expand the talent pipeline nationally.
The results pushed the UAE delegation up the overall medal standings at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, with officials expressing hope for further medals as the competition continues over the coming days.