Bahrain among top destinations for combat sport training

Manama : Bahrain was among the top destinations visited by international athletes for combat sports training in 2017.

Athletes from the United States of America, Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Kuwait, Egypt, India, Pakistan and Mexico visited Bahrain for combat sports training during the year, triggering a growth in the Kingdom’s fitness, tourism, hospitality and service sectors.

Bahrain’s emergence has also resulted in bringing more foreign investment into the sector and in creating more job opportunities. 

According to the leading Mixed Martial Arts Website - Arabs MMA, the projected growth in the sector is estimated to be 31.7 per cent during the financial year.

“The availability of world class infrastructure and trainers had been pivotal in the growth of the Kingdom as a leading sports and fitness destination,” said Mohammed Shahid, CEO of KHK MMA, an initiative under the leadership of His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.  

“KHK MMA is one of the most advanced and sophisticated training camps in the region and has prompted an inflow of international athletes including top fighters in Brave Combat Federation, UFC, Titan FC and Bellator to choose Bahrain as their destination to prepare for their upcoming competitions,” he added.

The major specialisations sought by international athletes in the Kingdom includes training camps for mixed martial arts with a focus on fitness, conditioning, boxing, wrestling, sambo, jiu-jitsu and wrestling. The growth has also triggered employment and investment opportunities in the fitness industry and hospitality sector.

As Bahrain is set to organise the week-long Mixed Martial Arts event in November, which features IMMAF World Championship, Combat Sports Expo and a major edition of Brave Combat Federation, the number of athletes and sports enthusiasts is expected to rise opening new opportunities of revenue for the economy.

Bahrain had earlier become a focus of global attention for implementing the social model of promoting sports to propagate healthy and holistic development among the youth. The initiative had reached the next stage as the current phase is opening new channels of revenue and new global opportunities.