Riyadh 2023 World Combat Games:A Celebration of Martial Arts, Vision 2030, and Saudi Arabia’s Transformative Journey in Sports
Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – October 24th, 2023: The spotlight remains firmly fixed on Saudi Arabia as we close in on the midway mark of the Riyadh 2023 World Combat Games. Aikido, Ju-Jitsu, Boxing, Judo, Karate, Sambo, Sumo, Wushu and Wrestling have already delivered exhilarating final events, captivating audiences worldwide. Showcasing 16 combat and martial arts disciplines, this 11-day sporting spectacle continues to unfold in the heart of Riyadh.
Mr. Stephen Fox, Vice President of SportAccord, has been a steadfast presence during the event, engaging with athletes, organizations, and schools to uphold and promote the Games’ core values.
While providing valuable insight into the SportAccord vision for the World Combat Games, Mr.Fox commented on Saudi Arabia’s pivotal role as the Games’ host country, highlighting how seamlessly the Games has blended with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, a transformative roadmap aimed at diversifying the nation’s economy and enhancing its global presence.
Commenting on Saudi Arabia’s integral role as the host country, Mr. Fox stated:
“I have been involved in Saudi Arabia’s sports sector for a few years, and I was here when the country declared the Vision 2030, and it is not just an empty vision. The progression of sports here, particularly in areas of gender equality, has been monumental. The Saudi female athletes current medal tally is a testament to this achievement, which would have been unthinkable a few years ago. Sports are thriving in the nation, especially as it works toward full equality and inclusion. This aligns seamlessly with Vision 2030 and is thanks to His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz and the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committees. No other country in the world has achieved what they have accomplished in these last three years. The country has grown from 32 National Federation to about 90, all of which are female participants. Having Saudi Arabia as a host nation has worked out very well, and for people who don’t know Saudi Arabia, this is a fantastic opportunity to see how the country has developed.
Today’s event spotlighted Aikido, Ju-Jitsu and Wrestling with gold medalists hailing from a vast array of countries, including Germany, Albania, Columbia, Montenegro, Morocco, Egypt, Albania, the UAE, Canada, Algeria and Slovenia. After today’s final events, Ukraine, Independent Neutral Athletes and China currently hold the lead for gold medals.
Aikido
Inspired by traditional Japanese fighting techniques and promoting self-improvement Aikido showcased eight demonstration teams today. Categorized as a demonstration martial art with its use of alternating attacks and defenses, the sport does not have gender or weight classifications.
Today saw eight demonstration teams take part and demonstrate to audiences various interpretations of the martial arts discipline, including a Saudi Arabian Team, a Japanese Team, Aikido Fundamentals, Advanced Aikido, Para Aikido, Aikido Experts, Shihan and Doho Cho.
Ju-Jitsu
Steeped in more than 600 years of history, Ju-Jitsu is a traditional martial art that promotes self-defense. The Ju-Jitsu International Federation regulates competitions in four different disciplines and is a staple of both the World Combat Games and the Asian Games.
Today’s disciplines saw Ju-Jitsu Fighting and Ju-Jitsu Ne-Waza, as well as male and female Duo Teams. Fighting Jiu-Jitsu is a modern form of the martial art and is known for its more comprehensive range of techniques, including striking, throwing techniques and groundwork. Ne-Waza uses grappling techniques such as pins, joint locks, and strangles. Each of these movements is performed on the ground and are used to hold an opponent down and disable his movement.
Women’s Ju-Jitsu
The -52 kg Fighting division saw Ramona Lixandru of Romania take first against Daria Honcharenko of Ukraine with a final score of 15-9. Third was awarded to Antonella Farne of Italy.
In the -70 kg Ne-Waza, first was awarded to Denise Krahn of Germany, beating Khulan Batbaatar of Mongolia 2-0. Stephanie Faure of France took third in a 3-2 win.
With a final score of 2-2, gold for the +70 kg was presented to Laura Valentina Castillo of Columbia with a win by points against Lauryne Lage of France. Bronze awarded to Hungary’s Tereza Crisley Cordeiro De Souza. The final score was 0-0 with the win determined by advantages.
In the women’s Duo Team competition, M. Rus and J. Jevsevar of Slovenia secured the gold against Austria’s C.Bergen and A.Brauneis with a final score of 69-65. Bronze was awarded to Thailand’s K. Kumsroi and S. Kaeosrasaen.
Men’s Ju-Jitsu
With a score of 4-0, the -56 kg Ne-Waza winner was Omar Alsuwaidi of the UAE. Second went to Neville Robles of Mexico. With a final score of 2-2, Sarvarbek Rakhmonberdiev of Uzbekistan took third with a win by advantages.
Winner of the men’s -85 kg Ne-Waza category was Saeed Hamad Taufiq Alkubaisi of the UAE, beating Omar Tariq Nada of Saudi Arabia by submission with a final score of 50-0.
Third was won by Nathan Dos Santos of Canada with a final score of 50-0 and win by kicken kachi.
The gold in the men’s Duo Team competition was awarded to S. Vukotic and F. Pesik of Montenegro, winning against G. Riegl and J. Horak of Austria with a final score of 77-75. Bronze was awarded to W. Netpong and C. Kitpongsri of Thailand.
Wrestling
Representing one of the oldest forms of combat and featured in the Olympics since its ancient Games of 708 BC, today’s Wrestling discipline included the Greco-Roman men’s category.
Men’s Greco-Roman Wrestling
Winner of the Greco-Roman 60 kg division was Ismail Ettalibi of Morocco, beating Mohamed Yacine Dridi of Algeria 3-1. Silver was awarded to Ryan Mazen B Hawsawi of Saudi Arabia.
Gold in the 67 kg class was awarded to Moustafa Hussein Alameldin of Egypt after victory by technical superiority in a 4-0 win against Faisal Khalid E Aldossary of Saudi Arabia. Silver was taken by Saud Ibrahim Alsubaie of Saudi Arabia.
The 77 kg finals saw Kevin Kupi of Albania win 4-0 in a victory by technical superiority against Hassan Saleh Barnawi of Saudi Arabia. Bronze was taken by Mohammed Bander Baihgy of Saudi Arabia.
The 87 kg division saw Bachir Sid Azara of Algeria take the gold with a final score of 4-0 and a victory by technical superiority against Saudi Arabia’s Sanad Adnan Alsibyani. Bronze was awarded to Abdullah Saad Aldossary of Saudi Arabia.
In a victory by fall, Egypt’s Mohamed Aly Elsayed Gabr took the 97 kg division with a score of 5-0 against Adem Boudjemline of Algeria. Tunisia’s Mohamed Skander Missaoui of Tunisia took third with a victory by injury.
With a score of 4-0, the 130 kg victor was Egypt’s Mohamed Ahmed Abdellatif, beating Ahmed Shaalan Adbulkadhim Al Tameemi of Iraq with a victory by technical superiority. Third was received by Saudi Arabia’s Ghazi Ali Bin Bakr with a score of 5-0 and victory by fall.
Tomorrow’s events will see the continuation of Aikido, Wrestling and Ju-Jitsu and the start of Fencing and Kickboxing. Aikido will be held in KSU 3 at 12 pm. Fencing’s Epee discipline will begin at 8:30 am and begin again at 5 pm with its Sabre discipline. Both will be held in KSU 4. Ju-Jitsu will be held in KSU 1 at 2:00 pm and Kickboxing at 3:00 pm in KSU 2. Wrestling will begin at 11 am and again at 4 pm in KSU 5. Fans who wish to catch the competition online can visit the Riyadh 2023 World Combat Games’ official website, where each event will be live-streamed.
About the Riyadh 2023 World Combat Games:
This year marks a significant milestone for Saudi Arabia as Riyadh proudly becomes the first Middle Eastern city to host the World Combat Games. The programme for this year’s Games encompasses 16 combat sports and martial arts disciplines, including Aikido, Armwrestling, Boxing, Fencing, Judo, Ju-Jitsu, Karate, Kendo, Kickboxing, Muaythai, Sambo, Savate, Sumo, Taekwondo, Wrestling, and Wushu.