Sports | Friday 8 February, 2019 5:00 am |

After the great success achieved in the first edition of the Muay Thai 2018 championship, the UAE Muay Thai & Kickboxing Federation announced at a press conference held this Thursday that the second edition of the UAE Muay Thai championship is going to be a successful addition to our national achievements in organising and hosting international sports events in the UAE.

 

The conference was attended by HE Abdullah Saeed Amer Al Neyadi, Chairman of the Federation; Yasser Salem al Saadi, Vice-chairman; Tareq Mohamed Al Mehairi, Board Member & Executive Director as well as Fahad Khalfan Al Abdooli, Head of the Activities Department, and in the presence of a number of representatives from local and international media. The championship will span three days from 8 – 10 February and will witness the participation of more than 180 players, representing 36 national clubs from across the UAE.

 

Al Neyadi said: “It is important to spread awareness of this martial art among young people, asides from the many benefits its practitioners have in maintaining fitness and gaining self-defence skills. This competition is part of the continuous efforts of UAE Muay Thai Championship to promote this sport in society in support of its role in consolidating the foundations of sports. Such events are in line with the directives of our wise leadership to build a healthy society and encourage the adoption of sports as a daily habit. This consolidates the position of the UAE on the list of countries that sponsor various sports and develop young talents to raise our national flag on the podiums of international forums."

 

Al Neyadi added: “The first edition of the Muay Thai championship was a remarkable success, and this year's edition will certainly build on it, especially in light of the great preparations we have made. We have been eager to attract the largest number of international teams and establish world-class competitions to help develop the capabilities of UAE champions in this sport, leading to a strong team capable of winning medals and prizes. We hope to offer fans of this sport an enjoyable tournament that encourages them to learn more about this sport and to provide our national team with the necessary elements to help us win more trophies on behalf of the UAE. "

 

The UAE Muay Thai & Kickboxing Federation, established in May 2017, is the official patron of Muay Thai & Kickboxing in the UAE. The Federation plays a trailblazing role in consolidating the mainstays of sports in a way that greatly contributes to building a society with a high awareness of both sports. Moreover, the Federation aims to raise the UAE flag at local and international events.

 

Since its establishment, the Federation has been keen to establish local championships and training camps to expand the base of the game in the community, help discover new talent, and attract the best elements to the national team. The Federation also participated in many health and cultural events within the country, with the aim to spread sports awareness and encourage members of society to adopt healthy habits. The last time the federation participated abroad was in the Asian Muay Thai Championships that took place in Macao where one of its players won a silver medal in the Federation’s first Asian participation.

 

This edition of the UAE Muay Thai Championship 2019 is expected to witness strong competition and receive a large audience due to the number of registered players who hail from all ages and weights, especially when compared to the first edition of the championship.