Emirati jiu-jitsu champ Mahra Al Hanaei scooped silver
Congratulations are in order for UAE’s athletes participating in this year’s Asian Games.
One of this year’s big winners included Mahra Al Hanaedi, 17, who was awarded a silver medal on the first day of the competition. The UAE champion narrowly lost to Cambodia’s Jessa Khan.
Held in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia, the Asian Games is the most prestigious event organized by the Olympic Council of Asia.
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The UAE scooped five awards – two gold and three silver medals – in a mere hour.
This isn’t the Emirati trailblazer’s first taste of victory – she won gold for the fifth time in a row at the Abu Dhabi World Youth Championship back in April.
At the time, Mahra expressed her excitement at competition at the-then upcoming Asian Games. “It’s still too early to talk about the Asian Games but the way I have performed in the World Youths and with more training, I’m confident I’ll be at a good level come September,” she said to Gulf News.
Mahra’s sisters, Maha, 18, and Hana, 14, have also made waves in women’s Jiu-Jitsu. Hana won silver in her debut at the Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Festival earlier in 2018.
The vice-president of the UAE Delegation Abdul Malik Jani celebrated the athletes’ achievements putting the UAE firmly on the world map.
“This collection of medals underlines the huge efforts of the federation and athletes who have the ability to deliver more in these Games,” he said.
Emirati women making strides in sports participation is best kind of way to see in Emirati Women’s Day.
