The United Arab Emirates athletes have finally won several medals at the Asian Championship held in Ajman, most of which are silver and bronze. Faisal Al Zaabi, a board member of the UAE Federation for Bodybuilding and Fitness, supervising the sport of armwrestling, noted that the current conditions are very conducive to the development of this sport over the next four years, which will allow us to discover around 300 male and female athletes, enabling the organization of tournaments and competitions with a higher technical level. Al Zaabi also concluded that armwrestling is not complicated for athletes familiar with its rules and method of practice, as it requires a relatively short period to learn and achieve good results, provided the athlete has technical skill, physical strength, and focus that helps them make decisive decisions during competitions. Armwrestling in the UAE is one of the popular sports experiencing rapid growth, since its official adoption under the umbrella of the UAE Federation for Bodybuilding and Fitness in 2019. After the number of registered players did not exceed five, the number has now risen to about 70 male and female athletes who regularly participate in local and international tournaments. Al Zaabi confirmed that the sport is witnessing remarkable and rapid development within the country, expecting the number of its core athletes to exceed 300 male and female athletes in the next four years. Al Zaabi expressed his pride in being one of the most prominent contributors to the development of this sport in the UAE and West Asian countries, benefiting from his experience as a former world champion in strength sports, which is the technical and physical foundation for practicing armwrestling, in addition to his participations as a player in international tournaments where he achieved advanced results. Al Zaabi told "Emirates Today": "I started practicing armwrestling in the UAE around 2000 in community and Ramadan tournaments, until it was officially approved in 2019 under the chairmanship of Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad bin Saeed Al Sharqi. This sport is especially popular in Ras Al Khaimah, in addition to the rest of the country's emirates, although that is often in seasonal occasions and events, and we are currently working on spreading it and enhancing its presence more." He added: "Armwrestling is an enjoyable and popular sport, and it is not as difficult as it requires a high level of focus and a precise investment of physical and technical capabilities, and it is not linked to a specific age, but rather to the player's ability to master its style, and I am proud that my son Khalifa, who is 12 years old, will be one of the UAE national team players in the future." Al Zaabi pointed out that the sport is attracting interest from both genders and various age groups starting from the age of 12, with efforts underway to increase the number of practitioners through cooperation with sports and community bodies.
