Abdullah Nada Wins Jiu-Jitsu Gold at Asian Games

Saudi athlete Abdullah Nada, 19, won the gold medal in the men's 85-kilogram jiu-jitsu event at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, delivering a commanding performance in his first appearance at the continental competition.

In the final, Nada defeated Kazakhstan's Merey Kabdullayev 7–0, a clear result that underlined his control throughout the bout. The victory reflected the growing strength of Saudi jiu-jitsu at the elite level.

At the time of his win, the gold raised Saudi Arabia's medal tally to 14, made up of 3 gold, 2 silver, and 9 bronze. That count was later surpassed as the Kingdom closed out the Games with a total of 17 medals.

Why it matters

Nada's success is a notable milestone for a young athlete competing on the Asian stage for the first time, and it signals the rising level of Saudi talent in combat sports. For the community, achievements like this add momentum to the Kingdom's expanding sporting scene and encourage more young people to pursue competitive disciplines.

With the final tally reaching 17 medals, the Games marked a strong showing for Saudi Arabia across several events, highlighting steady progress in developing athletes and supporting them on the international stage.

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