Dubai: The UAE’s fighters were in impressive form as the third Al Ahli Dubai International Open Karate got underway at the club’s indoor hall here late on Thursday.
Leading the gold medal rush for the hosts was Basmallah Ahmad of Al Shabab Club in the under-12 girls’ over-35kg kumite category as she finished ahead of Al Ahli’s Ohud Ayman and Megha Natarajan of Okaigan World Team from the US.
Al Shabab made it a double on the night when Mariam Mansour took the honours in the under-12 girls’ under-35kg class ahead of Sara Sami of Al Ahli and Rawan Ahmad from Egypt.
Ashraf Yasser of Al Ahli was the third UAE gold medal winner as he claimed top position in the under-12 boys’ under-40kg kumite category ahead of Ahmad Shukri of Tunisia and Haider Al Mejadi of Kuwait.
The Egyptians also impressed with three golds of their own. Manal Ali won the under-14 girls’ under-35kg kumite ahead of Mariya Smirnova from Russia and another Egyptian, Mariam Eisa Amr.
Karim Ghali from Egypt’s Dokki Shooting Club clinched gold in the under-14 boys’ kata, leaving Leonardo Diana from Italy in second and Shadi Al Halabi from Kuwait in third.
Egypt’s third gold came from Hazem Mohammad Ahmad Saeed as he was best in the under-12 boys’ over-40kg kumite. Danial Mokhtarian of Kuwait was second and Artem Vinokurov of Russia third.
The third edition of this annual competition will continue until Sunday, with teams vying for a share of the total prize money of $100,000 (Dh365,000).
