NAGOYA, 2 October — The UAE's jiu-jitsu fighters had another strong day at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Friday, collecting two more gold medals and a bronze to lift the national team's total to eight.

Friday's winners

Asma Al Hosani defended her women's 52kg title, beating Korea's Eonju Im in the final. Mahdi Al Awlaqi then took gold in the men's 77kg division, defeating Jordan's Mahmoud Jabr. Amaar Al Hosani secured bronze in the men's 94kg category.

The results build on a productive Thursday, when the team won three golds and two silvers.

A strong start on Thursday

On 1 October, Khaled Al Shehhi successfully defended his men's 62kg crown by beating fellow Emirati Omar Al Suwaidi in an all-UAE final, with Al Suwaidi taking silver. Ahmed Andeez added another gold in the men's 69kg division. In the women's 48kg final, Balqees Abdulla defeated compatriot Al Anoud Al Harbi, who claimed silver.

Taken together, the two days give the UAE five golds, two silvers and one bronze from the jiu-jitsu programme so far.

Familiar names, repeat success

Several of the athletes are returning to the podium after recent successes. According to the medal table for the UAE at this year's Asian Beach Games in Sanya in April, Khaled Al Shehhi and Asma Al Hosani both won gold in their ne-waza categories, while Mahdi Al Awlaqi took silver at 77kg. Al Awlaqi's gold in Nagoya therefore represents a step up in the same weight class.

That kind of continuity helps explain why the UAE has become one of the most reliable medal-winning nations in the sport. Jiu-jitsu is a national favourite in the Emirates, supported by dedicated federations, domestic championships and strong youth participation, and the Asian Games give its athletes a showcase on a continental stage.

All-Emirati finals

Two of Thursday's three gold-medal bouts, at 62kg and 48kg, were all-Emirati finals, a sign of how deep the national squad is in certain weight classes. When two compatriots meet in a gold-medal bout, the nation is guaranteed a result either way, though it also means one athlete leaves disappointed after reaching the final.

Other UAE news from the Games

Jiu-jitsu is not the only discipline delivering. The Emirates Jumping Team won silver in the equestrian team final on Thursday at the JRA Equestrian Park, in a contest that went down to the final rider.

What comes next

The 20th Asian Games continue in Aichi-Nagoya, and Emirati athletes in other sports are still to compete. No further jiu-jitsu medals were reported in the sources reviewed for this article. Official updates on schedules and results are published by the UAE National Olympic Committee, and Good Morning Dubai will track the team's progress as the Games continue.

For fans in the UAE, the numbers tell a clear story. Eight medals from the jiu-jitsu mat, five of them gold, represent a significant return for a sport the country has made its own.