Inaugural Union Wrestling Cup Kicks Off
Abu Dhabi, The Gulf Observer: The Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi witnessed the grand inauguration of the Union Wrestling Cup on Wednesday, 24th January, under the esteemed patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Organized by the UAE Wrestling Federation, the groundbreaking event showcased fierce competition in both Motaraha – traditional Emirati wrestling – and freestyle wrestling categories.
Distinguished personalities attended the opening ceremony, including Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence; Dr. Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, Chairman of the Department of Community Development in Abu Dhabi; Mohammed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the UAE Wrestling Federation; Aref Hamad Al Awani, Secretary-General of Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC); Sheikh Hamdan bin Saeed bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Secretary-General of the UAE Wrestling Federation; Abdulmunem Alsayedmohamed Alhashmi, Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation; Nenad Lalovic, President of United World Wrestling (UWW); UFC Champions Islam Makhachev and Khamzat Chimaev, and other Federation board members.
As the inaugural day concluded, Fujairah Martial Arts Club secured the top spot in the medal rankings, followed by Sharjah Self Defence in second place, and Khorfakkan Club in third. A total of 272 athletes from six different clubs participated across various categories.
Motaraha competitions, deeply rooted in Emirati heritage, featured 52 players in weight categories under 75 kg, under 85 kg, and open weight (over 85 kg). The under-15 category concluded on day one, with plans for under-17 category fights on the following day.
Talal Al Hashemi, a member of the UAE Wrestling Federation, expressed his pleasure at launching the Union Wrestling Cup and commended the participation from athletes across the nation and diverse nationalities. Motaraha, recognized by the United World Wrestling as a heritage wrestling form, witnessed enthusiastic participation, especially from school students.
Ali Muhammad Al-Najjar, securing gold in the 83 kg weight category, shared his determination to undergo rigorous training, acknowledging the support from Sharjah Self Defence Club. Motaraha results included Ibrahim Rashid Suleiman Al Shamsi, Abdullah Mohammed Abdul Mohsen Al Asiri, and Hamad Jaafar Abdul Aziz Al Jallaf among the winners in different weight categories.
The UAE Wrestling Federation aims for the continued success of the Union Wrestling Cup, contributing to the promotion and development of wrestling in the region.
