Abu Dhabi Welcomes First International RAF NEXT GEN Youth Wrestling Tournament
The emirate is set to host a landmark youth wrestling competition that will bring together the next generation of international athletes, offering young competitors the distinction of performing on the same stage as the sport's most celebrated professionals.
Abu Dhabi is to welcome a momentous addition to its distinguished sporting calendar with the arrival of RAF NEXT GEN Abu Dhabi, a pioneering youth wrestling tournament that represents the first international iteration of Real American Freestyle’s developmental platform. Taking place across 14 and 15 November, this exceptional event promises to establish a significant pathway for young athletes whilst further consolidating the emirate’s pre-eminent status as a premier destination for combat sports.
The tournament has been realised through a collaborative partnership between Real American Freestyle, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, and the UAE Wrestling Federation, extending a five-year strategic alliance that continues to flourish. This inaugural international edition will gather hundreds of wrestlers representing international and regional federations, offering participants an unparalleled opportunity to compete and advance within the competitive RAF ecosystem.
The competition spans four carefully structured age divisions: Under 11, Under 13, Under 15 and Under 17, with girls’ competitions featured at the Under 13 and Under 15 levels. Preliminary qualifying rounds will commence on 14 November at NYU Abu Dhabi, following which the championship finals will transfer to the celebrated Etihad Arena on Yas Island on 15 November. This distinctive arrangement affords finalists the extraordinary privilege of competing on identical mats to those occupied by the sport’s most internationally renowned professionals during the principal RAF Abu Dhabi event.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Saeed bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Secretary General of the UAE Wrestling Federation, affirmed that developing emerging talent stands central to wrestling’s sustained growth throughout the Emirates, with such platforms generating stronger developmental pathways whilst elevating Abu Dhabi’s standing as a rapidly expanding centre for the sport.
Chad Bronstein, Chief Executive Officer and Co Founder of Real American Freestyle, emphasised that the organisation’s foundational vision encompasses building the entire sport rather than merely a professional league, describing the international expansion of NEXT GEN as a defining moment in this comprehensive strategy.
Fakhry Alsarraj, Acting Executive Director of the Events, Retail & Culinary Sector at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, underscored that the emirate’s ambitions extend considerably beyond hosting acclaimed sporting occasions, encompassing the creation of platforms that foster the long term development of wrestling and broader sporting excellence. RAF NEXT GEN, he noted, introduces a valuable youth dimension to existing partnerships whilst positioning Abu Dhabi as an increasingly prominent regional hub for combat sports.
Registration for all weight classes is now available, with participants strongly encouraged to secure their positions promptly as places remain limited in each division. Further information regarding participating federations, competition protocols and event week programming will be announced in forthcoming weeks.
Source: WAM