Dubai: The UAE's Shaikha Maitha Bint Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum led from the front as the team returned from the Golden League in Italy with a haul of six medals.
Competing against some of the best champions in Europe, Shaikha Maitha won a bronze in her category, while Lana Ali took the gold in the under-15 years Kumite competition.
The Golden League held in Monza, Italy attracted nearly 1,500 athletes from 32 different countries.
On the opening day, Shaikha Maitha took part in the 60+ weight category which consisted of 52 participants from Italy, Croatia, Switzerland, Finland, Germany and Austria.
In her first encounter, Shaikha Maitha was stretched to the limit before winning narrowly 2-0 against her Italian opponent Valente.
The UAE champion next faced former European champion from Germany Hakins, and did well to secure a 3-0 result and advance.
Shaikha Maitha next came up in the third round against former world champion from Italy Vitilegrita. This was the toughest fight, but she finally managed to come through by the narrowest of margins to win 1-0.
Tired due to her tough encounter, Shaikha Maitha eventually went down to another world champion Yasmina from Germany on a superiority decision from the referees.
Despite the loss, Shaikha Maitha still stayed in the fray for a bronze medal, but not before overcoming two Italian opponents.
The highlight of the weekend was the gold medal won by Lana Ali in the 45 kgs weight category for under-15 years.
It was 13-year-old Haya Juma who walked into the history books as she became the first-ever athlete from the Arab world to win a medal in Kata at an European competition when she took the silver in the Kata.
Haya Juma impressed the referees with her ability to create her own Kata during the course of the competition.
Her Italian opponent in the final was too strong and the UAE athlete had to settle for the silver medal.
Haya Juma later doubled her success when she reached the final in the 45kgs Kumite category for under-14 years.
Also winning a silver medal was Feryal Jawad with a second place in the 55kgs category for under-14 years.
