The athletes from the UAE national fencing team and the Fujairah Martial Arts Club shined in the West Asia Junior, Cadet, and Youth Fencing Championships, held from August 29th to September 2nd in Amman, Jordan. They brought home a total of six medals, including four golds, a silver, and a bronze, distributed as follows:
- Fares Al Baloushi won the gold medal in the Foil category for the under-17 age group.
- Abdullah Al Kindi secured two medals: a gold in the Saber category for the under-17 age group and a silver in the Saber category for the under-15 age group.
- Among the female athletes, Asila Al Zaabi won the gold medal in the Saber category for the under-17 age group, while Al Hiyam Al Baloushi earned a bronze in the Foil category for the under-17 age group.
The highlight of the championship came from national team and Fujairah Martial Arts Club athlete Abdullah Al Samahi, who made history by winning the gold medal in the Épée category for the under-11 age group. This victory marked him as the first Emirati to achieve a gold medal in this category at the West Asia level. Al Samahi demonstrated exceptional skill and composure, winning all three of his bouts against competitors from Oman and Jordan, securing the gold medal on the first day of the competition.
Nader Abu Al Shawish, Director of the Fujairah Martial Arts Club, expressed his pride in the team’s achievements, stating, “This accomplishment brings with it greater responsibilities. We will work on leveraging this success in our future plans to achieve more victories and enhance the presence of our club’s athletes in the national team, in addition to pursuing new achievements. We will also focus on nurturing young talents to prepare them for international competitions.”
He further emphasized that the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah and President of the Fujairah Martial Arts Club, which centers on supporting young talents and providing all necessary resources, will undoubtedly lead to the emergence of many sporting champions. Abu Al Shawish thanked His Highness for his continuous support and guidance. He also extended his gratitude to the UAE Fencing Federation, particularly to Engineer Sheikh Salem bin Sultan Al Qasimi, President of the UAE, Arab, and Asian Fencing Federations, for his ongoing efforts to elevate the status of fencing and represent the UAE in international competitions. He praised Sheikh Salem’s direct and insightful leadership in steering the UAE Fencing Federation.