By Hana Al Dayyat
OCA Young Reporter
Sanya, China, April 23, 2026: In an extraordinary display of patriotism and brotherhood, the men's jiu jitsu -62kg final at the Asian Beach Games became an unforgettable moment for the UAE. The gold medal match pitted two Emirati athletes against each other: Khaled Alshehhi and Omar Alsuwaidi.
When the final began, they did play, but it was not hard or aggressive. Both athletes held back, avoiding any strong moves. Their hesitation was not born of fear, but of love and respect. Both are close friends and teammates. Neither wanted to be the one who defeated the other harshly on such a big stage, nor did they want to see their brother lose.
However, the officials quickly stepped in. They reminded both athletes that, under competition rules, if no one wins, if both remain too passive, both would be disqualified. The UAE would lose the gold medal entirely. No Emirati anthem would play. No flag would rise. That reality changed everything. They began to compete more seriously, and Alshehhi ultimately won the gold medal 4-2 on points.
After the match, both athletes spoke from the heart. The gold medalist, Alshehhi, said: "First of all, it's an indescribable feeling because the UAE is in a war right now, and the situation is difficult. We are here to offer the bare minimum for the UAE, and God willing, we aspire to do better and better."
Meanwhile, Omar Alsuwaidi, showed incredible grace, saying: "The UAE is number one... We are brothers, and the victory is one whether it's me or Khaled. The gold medal will go to the country and will be in the name of the country. No one cares who the winner is, whether it's me or him... We are playing today in the name of the UAE. We are not playing in the name of Khaled or Omar.”
In the end, the UAE did not lose. It gained a gold medal and the world saw what Emirati brotherhood truly means.
The two bronze medals went to Abdulmalik Al Murdhi of Saudi Arabia and to Batyr Tenizbay of Kazakhstan.