Apr 30 2024
Khaled Al Shehi wins UAE’s second gold medal at Asian Games 2023
Fri 06 Oct 2023
Hangzhou: During the initial day of the jiu-jitsu competitions at the Asian Games, the UAE secured an additional four medals, further bolstering their impressive tally, which currently stands at 11 medals, comprising two gold, four silver, and five bronze.
In the men’s 62kg weight class, the final witnessed an all-UAE showdown, with Khaled Al Shehi emerging victorious over fellow Emirati Khalid Al Blooshi. The initial medal haul was complemented by silver medals from Balqees Abdulla, who competed against Filipino Margarita Ochoa in the 48kg women’s final. Mohamed Al Suwaidi also secured a second-place finish in his weight division, marking a successful day for the UAE.
Speaking to the media after his gold, Al Shehi described the feelings his feelings, expressed his thanks to God and the honor of performing for his country:
‘It is truly an unforgettable moment in my life, filled with overwhelming joy. Tears welled up in my eyes because I had longed for this moment for a long time. I thank God that I have finally reached it. We must always cherish this moment, representing the flag of the country that has given us so much, placing it above all else.’
The gold-medal winner went on further to praise the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF) ‘The programs initiated by the federation for spreading and developing the sport and creating champions have led to the results we witnessed today.’ and described the UAE as the ‘biggest winner’ in an all-Emirati final.
Deputy Chairman of the UAEJJF, Mohamed Salem Al Dhaheri, expressed his delighted with the team’s performance, as a whole: ‘The team performed exceptionally well, with four of them reaching the podium in this competitive tournament featuring participation from champions from all across the continent.’
Mubarak Al Menhali, Director of the Technical Department at the UAEJJF, shared his ideas on what the team will do going further to ensure even more medals:
‘Regardless of the achievements we attain, we believe there is always room for improvement, and we maintain strong confidence in their ability to earn more medals in the upcoming days.’
The Asian Games 2023 are taking place in Hangzhou, China, commencing on September 23 and scheduled to conclude on October 8. As of the current time of writing, the UAE has secured an impressive total of 11 medals, surpassing their fellow Gulf Nation, Saudi Arabia, in the medal totals.
