Player Mohammed Abdullah Al Mazimi revealed that his practice of chess helped him become a champion in judo. He has won 15 medals during his career in this combat sport on both local and international levels, confirming that his future ambition is to participate in the Olympic Games and world championships to win titles and raise the flag of the UAE on the podiums. The 15-year-old talent told "Al Ittihad": "Choosing judo was not easy, as I was practicing chess with great passion and on the right track to become an accomplished player, but I fell in love with dynamic and combat sports, alongside chess, the mental sport that taught me patience, precision in thinking, and planning, which are important and required elements in practicing judo, as it requires mental calmness and making the right decision with quick movement." He added: "From the first training session, I felt a strong desire to practice judo, and I found support from my coaches, especially the technical director of the judo department at the club, Islam Abdel Fattah, which turned the experience into a real passion over time, especially after my participation in championships." Al Mazimi continued that his choice of judo was coincidental, but his background in chess contributed to polishing his personality on the mat, giving him the ability to focus and read the opponent, noting that his previous practice of football and gymnastics also helped him excel quickly in judo. He pointed out that "joining Sharjah Club for Combat Sports played an important role in my continuity, due to the club's proximity to my home, which helped me commit, along with the encouraging environment that provided me with an opportunity to develop, and that helped me change my perspective on judo from just a hobby to an ambitious project, embodied in the dream of being in the Olympics or major championships." Al Mazimi revealed that he has won 15 colored medals in his judo career on both local and international levels, including nine gold, two silver, and four bronze in the junior category, indicating that his biggest dream is to ascend international podiums and raise the UAE flag, in a journey that started from the calm of chess to the buzz of judo. Al Mazimi highlighted the great support and role played by his family, especially his father and mother, which helped him organize his time between studies and training, in addition to his coaches. In turn, the technical director of judo, Islam Abdel Fattah, confirmed that the speed of responding to technical instructions during training and competitions, which player Mohammed Al Mazimi possesses, is considered one of the important specifications for any player, and we noticed that during many championships and trainings. He said: "We work on developing his skills, and it is certain that he will become an international champion in the near future." He continued: "We at Sharjah Club for Combat Sports care about blending sports with high ethics, socially and athletically, as they are important specifications for sustaining success, and we found these specifications rooted in player Al Mazimi, which helped him develop quickly, and we hope to see him crowned on world podiums in the near future."
