Read about the incredible performance of the Al Hammadi sisters, Zamzam and Ghala, at the Youth World Championships. They emerged as champions, securing gold medals for the UAE team.
The Al Hammadi sisters, Zamzam and Ghala, showcased their exceptional skills and emerged as the stars of Day 2 at the International Mixed Martial Art Federation’s Youth World Championships. The event, held at the Mubadala Arena, witnessed the UAE team’s outstanding performance, securing three golds, four silvers, and four bronze medals.
In the girls’ 52-kilogram final, 15-year-old Zamzam faced off against Ukrainian Kira Voliashchenko and secured a unanimous points decision victory. Meanwhile, her younger sister Ghala, 14, triumphed over Yezin Suna of India in the girls’ 40-kilogram final.
The presence of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, added grandeur to the event. Sheikh Khaled personally awarded the medals to the champions, making the victory even more special for the Al Hammadi sisters.
Zamzam expressed her joy and gratitude, stating, "To win the world title and receive the medal from His Highness Sheikh Khaled, and with my sister winning gold earlier, is indeed a special day in my life." She further added, "I’m really happy with the performances and the results of both me and my sister, because such achievements are hard to earn. It was the first time for us to compete at this level."
This is not the first time the Al Hammadi sisters have tasted success on the international stage. They have previously won gold medals in the IJJF Jiu-Jitsu Youth World Championship. Zamzam proudly displayed both her jiu-jitsu and MMA medals around her neck, emphasizing the role of jiu-jitsu in her success in MMA. She revealed that jiu-jitsu has been a part of her life for over 11 years and has laid the foundation for her achievements in MMA.
Zamzam’s dedication to jiu-jitsu is evident as she shared, "Everyone in my family practices jiu-jitsu. I was into ballet at the beginning, but when I got into jiu-jitsu, I started to skip ballet classes to spend more time in jiu-jitsu." She continued, "I had a lot of success in jiu-jitsu and was selected for the UAE youth team. I have been training in MMA only for a year, but now I want to pursue both martial arts for my country."
Zamzam’s journey to the final was not an easy one. She defeated American Lariah Gill and Ireland’s Olivia Babiarz, both by submission, to secure her spot in the championship match. While Zamzam and Ghala shone brightly, their male teammates also put up a commendable performance. Saeed Al Nuaimi and Salem Al Hamoud secured silver medals in the boys’ 57-kilogram and 77.1-kilogram categories, respectively. Al Nuaimi lost to Mukhammad Saidzoda of Tajikistan by submission, while Al Hamoud suffered a similar fate against Bulgarian Martin Petkov.
The UAE team also clinched three bronze medals, with Hamdan Al Najar, Saif Al Hammadi, and Omar Al Raeesi finishing third in the 48-kilogram, 52-kilogram, and 57-kilogram categories, respectively.
The overall standings of the championships saw Ukraine leading the pack with seven gold medals, followed by Tajikistan with four. The UAE, USA, and Ireland secured three gold medals each, while Armenia, Uzbekistan, and Poland claimed two golds each. Kazakhstan, Britain, Spain, Israel, Lebanon, and Bulgaria each earned one gold medal.
The Al Hammadi sisters’ remarkable performance at the Youth World Championships has undoubtedly solidified their status as rising stars in the world of MMA. With their exceptional skills and dedication, Zamzam and Ghala are set to make their mark on the international stage in the years to come.
