Abu Dhabi: An injury to the hip had dashed the hopes of UAE’s Humaid Al Kaabi’s of gold at the Abu Dhabi World Youth Championship last year.
It was a hard pill to swallow for Al Kaabi, who having settled for a bronze last year, had vowed to clinch gold in 2017.
In what was his last year in the youth category, Al Kaabi was on a mission to clinch the title. The entire IPIC Arena was rooting for the Emirati’s success and Al Kaabi did not disappoint as he beat Belgium’s Henri Duchateau by 2-0 points in a tense contest.
“Since last April, I had made my goal to win the gold and I swear to God I put everything behind it. Before the final today my body felt as if I have to give up the fight as it was hurting me a lot. I had lost considerable amount of weight,” revealed a jubilant Al Kaabi.
He had not left any stone unturned into the run up to the event, participating in almost every tournament possible and even lost those extra seven kgs to compete in the Blue belt 66kg category.
Following this success, Al Kaabi in all probability, will be receiving the Purple belt and will be competing in the adult category from next year.
“I will keep training hard and continue to work hard. I had trained so very much this year that I couldn’t walk after my trainings. And in the end this gold medal is worth all that hardwork,” said Al Kaabi, crediting his success to coach Ramon Lemons.
“Had it not been for Lemons, I wouldn’t be here. He backed me all the way and help me reduce my weight. I was even getting cramps because of that but I stood my ground and battled it out,” added Al Kaabi, who had won gold in Madrid and Athens youth tournaments earlier this year.
UAE’s youngest national player Omar Al Fadhli has set-up a title clash with teammate Hamad Nawad, whom the former had lost to at the Youth Championship in Athens last month.
“I have done well so far but again I’m meeting Nawad in the finals tomorrow and it is going to be a tough contest. I’m keen to avenge the loss and try and win the title. I will give him my everything,” asserted Al Fadhli.
In the 81kg blue belt final, Brazilian Mateus Souza got the better of Canadian Oscar Gamelin to clinch gold. The bronze was bagged by Antonio Pinho of Angola. Jordan’s Abdallah Shoga also claimed the top honours in the 94kg blue belt category taming Hazza Salim Nasib Al Shamisi of UAE.
