ABU DHABI- The UAE national Jiu-Jitsu team won 15 medals at the Fifth Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games hosted in Turkmenistans capital Ashgabat, placing the UAE in first place, and fourth place overall, with a total of 16 medals.

The UAE national Jiu-Jitsu team returned home on Wednesday evening, and welcomed at Dubai Airport by members of the UAE National Jiu-Jitsu Federation, representatives from Abu Dhabi Sports Council and the General Authority of Youth and Sports Welfare.

Aref Al Awani, Secretary-General of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, commended the national champions for their great achievement at the games, saying, "I would like to pass my most sincere congratulations to the UAEs leadership, people, and sports professionals for this great achievement. Our champions come home today with a prestigious international title, and we remember the days when mere international participation was a goal. Our heroes have made this true with their excellence in Jiu-Jitsu, raising the name of the UAE up high on the world sports arena."UAE Jiu-Jitsu board member, Youssef Al Batran, said, "This grand achievement is an essential part of our national teams path to success. We are confident these medals will not be the last and many more will be brought back to the UAE very soon.""Our pride in our young champions is unmeasurable, but I have to highlight our great gratitude for our young female champions, who ventured into professional Jiu-Jitsu and represented the UAE in the best possible manner. We see this tournament as a first step for them towards more international titles," he added.

Commenting on his under 94kg golden medal, UAE champion Faisal Al Ketbi, said, "Our national team has come back having achieved great things, considering our 15 - medal haul. I would like to thank our wise leadership for their continuous support and for encouraging Jiu-Jitsu at all levels, for enabling us to reach this remarkable position."Reem Abdulla Alhashemi, winner of the bronze medal in the under 45kg category, said, "The success we have achieved in both men and womens in this championship is a source of great pride for us, and it would not have happened without the support of our wise leadership, especially His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces , whose support was critical in all stages until we were able to place the name of our beloved country in this amazing position."

Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2017.