Muay Thai medals awarded to students in UAE championship

Three Birzeit University students—Ahamd Hilal, Dana Akef and Amir Al-Amleh—each won a medal at the Muay Thai Championship held in the United Arab Emirates. The students were part of the Palestinian national team.

Muay Thai, or Thai boxing, is a combat sport that originates in Thailand and utilizes upright striking and grappling techniques.

The Birzeit University students, all in the Physical Education Department at the Faculty of Education, were awarded 1 gold and 2 bronze medals after competing with a total of 700 boxers from 93 countries.

Hilal defeated athletes from Lebanon, Iran and Croatia, and won the gold medal, in the under-81 weight category for the youth group, while Al-Amleh won against participants from Syria, Algeria and France, and got the bronze medal. Akef, in her first international competition, was also awarded the bronze medal.

As a gold-medal holder, Hilal is qualified to participate in the 2023 World Martial Arts Games, to be held in Riyash, Saudi Arabia.

The Faculty of Education has honored the three students during its Open Education Day, held at the university on June 8, 2022. Refa’ Al-Ramahi, dean of the faculty, congratulated the students and emphasized the university’s full support for student athletes engaged in sports and in the performing arts.