We had an action packed first day of the IMMAF Youth World Championships which was filled with excitement, elation, heartbreak, sportsmanship, and talent.
Athletes from over 19 countries, within Youth group C, took to the ring between 10am-6pm to fight it out for glory in the Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi.
A spectacular opening ceremony followed by speeches from H.H Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa bin Shakhbut Al Nahyan and IMMAF President Kerrith Brown, sandwiched the morning group stage fights and Tuesday’s medal bouts.
61 medals were presented in style to our athletes from across the world.
The United States, Tajikistan, Team England and The UAE were all prominent amongst the medals, but Team Ukraine topped the rankings on day one with a whopping 16 medals.
We have some special moments too from the likes of Armenia, Wales, Mongolia and historically Trinidad & Tobago.
Male athletes
From the 31kg division, Halimjon Davlatov of Tajikistan won the first medal of the day by Unanimous decision, beating the USA’s Jorge Moreno to gold. Ukrainian Erik Sakovskyi and Saoud Alblooshi of the UAE both took home the bronze.
Rakan Alyammahi brought pride to his home nation by beating Tajikistan’s Nurshed Kovatov in the 34kg division final to win the UAE’s first home gold of this championships. Fellow Tajikistani fighter Umardzhon Fayzaliev and Armenian fighter Mushegh Tovmasyan valiantly won bronze.
Ukraine’s Daniil Tsyhankov bettered his countryman Erik Sakovskyi’s bronze medal to win gold against Diliyorbek Abdumannonov of Uzbekistan. Akmal Sobirzoda and Kanan Gulizada won bronze for Tajikistan and Azerbaijan.
In the 40kg division England’s Noah Tyndall was defeated by Mukhammadsafo Khodjamiyarov and missed out on gold to the Uzbekistan athlete. Eli Young and Irop Grygorashcuk were forced to settle for joint third place.
Antoni Bawor won Poland’s solitary medal by beating Ukrainian fighter Roman Acramenko in the 44kg division final. Acramenko’s teammate Heorhii Kostenko and Lebanon athlete Adnan El Zarif picked up the bronze medals.
Cheered on by his ecstatic travelling supporters, Johnny Brattelli excelled to win gold for Team USA by defeating England’s Liam Mulligan in the 48kg division final. Losing semi-finalists Amir Sobirzoda and Davit Gasparyan’s evenings were consolidated with bronze medals for Tajikistan and Armenia respectively.
Austin Carrillo just missed out on repeating Johnny Brattelli’s heroics in his own final after being narrowly defeated by gold medallist Muhammadali Saduloev of Tajikistan. Uzbekistani fighter Shokhrukh Tursunov received bronze after being defeated by Carrillo in the 52kg division semi-finals.
Newly IMMAF members Latvia came close to following up their successful membership with a gold medal to boot, but Luka Stalnojs was pipped to top spot by Constantin Tabacaru of the Republic of Ireland in the 57kg final. The bronze medal was secured by Ilhom Hamidov of Tajikistan.
Wrapping up the day with a win was Ukrainian fighter Artur Ivashchencko who defeated Armenia’s Garo Partamian to the gold medal. Heorhii Cherevatenko and Muxammadali Xoliqov added bronze medals to end a successful day of proceedings for both Ukraine and Uzbekistan.
Female Athletes
It was a great start to the competition for England as both Bailey Mae and Lilah Adams struck gold in the 34kg and 37kg divisions. Ukraine’s Karyna Kolezhuk was forced to settle for silver, as was Amelia Lennon of Team Ireland. Viktoriia Nariezhna of Ukraine picked up the third podium spot.
Sara Alzarooni won gold in the 40kg women’s division for the UAE after winning all three of her fights. Daryna Sakovych and Victoriia Ivaniuk settled for silver and bronze, whilst Alzarooni’s fellow UAE teammate, Noof Almutwa, also achieved a bronze medal.
In the 44kg divison Zlata Klein beat Labanon’s Ayla Zgheib to the gold medal, forcing Marayla Lamere of Team USA and Mongolian fighter Mungunzul Altangadas to third place. It was a special moment for Altangadas, who managed Mongolia’s first medal of the day.
Kayden Dalton stormed to victory against Ukraine’s Mariia Krychenko to win Ireland’s second gold of the day. Alexandra Jakubcova secured Slovakia’s first medal of the day with a bronze, alongside Iryna Martseniuk of Ukraine.
Nixie Garcia claimed Team USA’s sixth medal with a win over Team Azerbaijan’s Sonayeva Ayan, whilst Sevana Machuca added a 7th with a bronze in the 52kg division.
However, the spotlight was on Alyssa Adams who won Trinidad & Tobago’s first ever medal at a Youth World Championships. The federation has been putting in a tremendous amount of work to improve development in their country, and that work has is clearly paying off.
Team Mexico went wild when Wendy Rebeca Lara Barraza won Mexico’s first gold of the Championships by beating Ukranian Polina Kovalchuk in the 57 kg division final. Esmira Bayramova won bronze for Azerbaijan, alongside Angola’s Albertina Ntyamba – adding to a successful period for Angolian MMA.
The 62kg division final was wrapped up by Alexis Mariscal who claimed Team USA’s 8th medal by defeating Viktoriia Morozenko for gold honours. Ava Tyrie won Wales their first medal of the day with a bronze and was joined on the third placed step by Mariah Hernandez of the USA.
Every athlete gave the 2024 Youth World Championships the opening day it deserved and we cannot wait to showcase the rest of the talent we have in our ranks across the rest of the tournament.
