Rousing reception for MMA team

Manama : Bahrain’s Mixed Martial Arts team which made outstanding impact at the First African Open Amateur Mixed Martial Arts Championship concluded in Johannesburg in South Africa was received on return by Supreme Council for Youth and Sports assistant general secretary and Bahrain Olympic Committee general secretary Abdulrahman Askar, Bahrain Mixed Martial Arts Federation president Khalid Al Khayyat as well as other top sports officials.

Askar congratulated the team on this achievement, which he attributed to the continued support from Bahrain’s sport authorities, led by Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, and BOC President.

Askar also noted the significant efforts and contributions of Supreme Council first vice-president and BMMF honorary president Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa towards mixed martial arts, which achieved major successes in recent competitions.

This was the team’s third event this year after previously taking part at the European Open Amateur Championship in Sofia.

Other teams in the fray were hosts South Africa, Russia, India, Congo and Ghana. These teams were represented by 35 fighters in five weights categories for women and nine for men.