Palestinian kickboxers
Palestine secures two gold medals at kickboxing World Cup
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- Abdullah Kanaan took gold in the senior division, while Mohammad Alyan won the junior title.
- The tournament brought together around 3,000 athletes representing 77 teams.
- Palestinian athletes have collected 49 medals across five international competitions in 2026, according to the Palestinian ambassador to Uzbekistan.
Palestinian kickboxers returned from the World Cup in Uzbekistan with eight medals, including two golds, as the national team competed against thousands of athletes from around the world in a tournament that highlighted Palestine’s growing presence on the international sporting stage.
Abdullah Kanaan secured gold in the senior division, while Mohammad Alyan took the top spot in the junior category at the competition, which concluded in Tashkent and brought together approximately 3,000 athletes representing 77 teams.
Six other members of the Palestinian delegation added bronze medals to the tally: Mustafa Sharaf, Anas al-Qaq, Mohammad Oweisat, Ahmad Sbeih, Yahya Jabr and Waad Bkeirat.
The team’s results came from a 27-member delegation of male and female athletes drawn from seven Palestinian clubs and sports centres: Aswar Beit al-Maqdis Club, Al-Bustan Silwan Association, Be Strong Gym, Silwad Sports Club, Meithalun Sports Club, Champions Center for Martial Arts and Target One MMA.
The delegation was led by Nizar Taleb, vice president of the Palestinian Kickboxing Federation, and accompanied by federation board members Tamer Bakr and Wasim Shamlawi.
Palestinian Ambassador to Uzbekistan Wael al-Batrikhi praised the team’s performance, pointing to a broader run of results in international competition throughout 2026.
According to al-Batrikhi, Palestinian athletes have collected 17 gold, 18 silver and 14 bronze medals across five international competitions this year. The combined total of 49 medals, he said, reflects the increasing visibility of Palestinian sport internationally and the athletes’ ability to compete at the highest levels.
The eight-medal haul adds another milestone to a year of international competition for Palestinian athletes, with competitors from several clubs contributing to the national team’s performance on the world stage.
Read more: Palestine’s Maryam Bsharat wins world karate gold in Poland
