Emirati athletes Zamzam Al Hammadi and her sister Ghala Al Hammadi have ambitious goals. They aspire to excel in MMA and Jiu-Jitsu, aiming to make the UAE proud. Inspired by their supportive mother, they have been successful in winning medals in their respective combat sports. They now plan to defend their gold medal at the 2024 IMMAF Youth World Championships in Abu Dhabi, their home city. To prepare for this mixed martial arts event from August 6 to 10, they are training intensively for 8 to 10 hours daily.
“We are in a closed training camp. Our daily routine includes rigorous sessions in mixed martial arts, Jiu-Jitsu, and cardio. We train for two hours in the morning and up to four hours in the evening. Our evening sessions include three hours of Jiu-Jitsu followed by an hour of cardio,” Zamzam explained to Khaleej Times. The 2024 IMMAF Youth World Championships, now in its third edition, is expected to be the largest yet, with around 850 athletes from 45 countries participating. Defending their gold medal on such a prestigious platform is a major accomplishment for the Al Hammadi sisters.
“This is a crucial opportunity we must seize. We have competed in numerous tournaments and have consistently placed first. The Worlds is a significant event close to our hearts,” Ghala remarked. “Inshallah, our goal is to win the gold medal and retain our titles. After all, this is the pinnacle of mixed martial arts. Who wouldn’t want to defend their title and be the best?” Zamzam emphasized. Their training extends beyond their camp to their home, where their mother, Nada Al Nuaimi, an athlete herself, encourages them to push harder.
“Our mother is also an athlete. She organizes additional training sessions for us at home. She has been incredibly supportive, wanting us to excel and make our country, President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, proud of our achievements,” Zamzam shared. Ghala added, “She holds a black belt in judo and a brown belt in Jiu-Jitsu. She is now more involved in mixed martial arts to support us better, along with our brother Zayed, who is also an athlete. Our late father, Mohammed Al Hammadi, was a basketball referee.” The summer break has allowed them to focus more on their training. Despite their intense sports schedule, they have managed to maintain a good balance with their studies, with Zamzam entering Grade 12 and Ghala in Grade 10.
“We are performing well academically. Both of us have achieved high grades. With the summer vacation, we can concentrate fully on our sport,” they stated.
