Thailand excelled in fighting ju-jitsu today, claiming nine gold medals ©JJAU

With punches and kicks thrown into the mix, Thailand were dominant in the fighting discipline today at the Asian Ju-Jitsu Championships, winning nine titles here at the Bahrain National Stadium.

Athletes were able to translate their skills well in the discipline, which has similarities to Thailand's national sport muaythai.

Nutchaya Sugun, who won women's under-48 kilogram bronze in the traditional ju-jitsu discipline, was crowned Asian champion in fighting, with Ulzhan Nurlan of Kazakhstan taking the silver medal.

Vietnam's Dao Thi Nhu Quynh was the bronze medallist.

Benyatip Bephumthong copied her team-mate's achievement in the women's under-52kg after beating compatriot Rattanaporn Thatthong to the gold.

Bronze medals were awarded to Kazakhstan's Shakhnoza Tajiyeva and Dương Thị Thanh Minh of Vietnam.

The titles kept coming for the Thai team with wins in the women's under-57kg and under-63kg for Nuchanat Singchalad and Orapa Senatham, respectively.

Singchalad claimed gold in front of silver medallist Aray Uzakbay from Kazakhstan and bronze medallist Shivani Gupta of India, while Senatham was joined on the podium by Kazakhstans' Nazerke Issabek and Zhanar Degenbay.

In men's competition, Suwijak Kuntong won the under-62kg gold medal for Thailand, last beating Vietnam's Tran Luong.

Abu-Bakir Zhanibek from Kazakhstan and Iraq's Mohammed Al-Mashahedi completed the podium with both finishing third.

Thailand's Chanwit Aunjai was victorious in the men's under-85kg final, beating Altynbek Aldongarov from Kazakhstan to the title, with the pair joined on the podium by Jurabek Kobilov of Uzbekistan.

Thailand took the men's, women's and mixed show gold medals too, with the discipline demonstrating the manoeuvres of the sport. 

Bahrain's Ahmed Al-Aradi claimed the hosts' first title of the Asian Ju-Jitsu Championships ©JJAU
Bahrain's Ahmed Al-Aradi claimed the hosts' first title of the Asian Ju-Jitsu Championships ©JJAU

Hosts Bahrain took their first gold medal of the Asian Championships in the last final of the day - with Ahmed Al-Aradi beating Kazakhstan's Nurzhan Baigambetov in the men's over-94kg decider.

Their respective compatriots Abdulrahman Alhasan and Adilbek Yeskaliyev won bronze after losing to their team-mates in the semi-finals.

Khulan Batbaatar claimed the first gold medal for Mongolia at the event, winning the women's under-70kg against Onanong Sangsirichok of Thailand.

Ayan Amze of Kazakhstan and Titapa Junsookplung of Thailand were third.

Bakhromjon Mashrapov claimed Uzbekistan's first title too, finishing first in the men's under-77kg by defeating Thailand's Banpot Lertthaisong.

Alisher Akzhigitov of Kazakhstan and Iraq's Ihsan Al-Anserei won bronze.

Vietnam's Phung Tie Hue won her second title in as many days, being joined on the women's under-45kg podium by Tadaporn Sakaew of Thailand and compatriot Huong Nguyen.

Kazakhstan took home three gold medals, with victories for Zhenis Nurlybaev in the men's under-56kg, Zhandos Nurmukhanbetov in the men's under-69kg and Vins Lev in the men's under-94kg.

Thailand are now top of the medals table with 10 golds, nine silvers and eight bronzes, with the United Arab Emirates close behind with eight golds, two silvers and six bronzes.

Kazakhstan and Vietnam are third and fourth with three gold medals each.