Abu Dhabi: The UAE added a gold, silver and two bronze on the final day to finish at the top of the medals tally with eight medals at Asian Championship in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on Saturday.
Faisal Al Ketbi, who forfeited his finals to compatriot Zayed Al Kaabi in the 94-kilogramme weight on Friday, clinched gold in the absolute class.
“I want to reiterate our strategy when we have two entered in the same weight is for both to reach the final. And after achieving that objective it doesn’t matter who wins the gold as long as it is for the UAE,” said Al Ketbi.
Zayed Al Mansouri claimed silver in the 62-kilogramme weight while both Talib Al Kirbi and Al Hammadi took bronze, in the 69kg and open category respectively.
“To return with eight medals from a squad of nine is an outstanding result for the UAE. It is the third time we have topped the medal’s table in an Asian championship. I must say it wasn’t easy out there. The competition was very tough with the bar raised at every event at this level,” added Al Ketbi, who hailed the work done for the sport by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
“Shaikh Mohammad’s unstinted support for the sport in the country has been the overwhelming factor for the success we are enjoying now,” said the first Emirati black belt holder.
