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Balqees Al Hashmi

Balqees Al Hashmi grew to love jiu-jitsu and imagined an academy where Emirati instructors would teach girls.

Biography

Balqees Al Hashmi began jiu-jitsu at ten after accompanying her older brother Basel to training. Watching him made her want to try it herself. In her 2020 recollection to Al Khaleej, she also remembered the encouragement of the women teaching the sport at her school, where joining the jiu-jitsu programme strengthened her enthusiasm. In August 2017 she trained at Zayed Sports City, seeking one of four UAE places for the under-15 Balkan Open. Early apprehension had given way to a love of the sport by her 2018 Al Bayan interview. She drew encouragement from her sister Reem, Basel and the wider family. Already, her ambitions extended beyond collecting medals: she imagined an academy bearing her name, particularly welcoming girls. Emirati instructors would pass on their experience, with her siblings helping teach. It was a way she hoped to remain involved after her own competitive career. During the pandemic, home practice with Reem and Basel gave her a different technical challenge. She described learning to handle heavier partners by using their weight in her movements. A tenth-grade pupil in 2020, she organised her time around study and training and joined the federation’s remote sessions. Gulf Today reported adult world gold in Mongolia and an under-21 world title in Astana in 2023. Her account of the Mongolia final centred on a lesson from her coach: concentration had to last until the contest’s final seconds. Looking ahead, she wanted to progress through brown and black belt and win a medal at the Abu Dhabi World Pro. At ADXC5 in 2024, she beat Maria Odintsova after four weeks of three daily sessions, technical corrections and mindset work with Mariam Al Ali. She credited coach Marina Ribeiro and using the wall to get past her opponent’s legs. The academy ambition resurfaced in a later Al Bayan interview with Asma Al Hosani and Al Anoud Al Harbi. Balqees imagined Emirati women teaching adults and younger pupils, joking that she would oversee the project. It remained a shared aspiration, with no opening date.

Sources for this profile

  • Khaleej Times, 2024.(opens in a new tab)

    • Her ADXC5 cage debut brought victory over Maria Odintsova; she credited wall-assisted guard passing and coach Marina Ribeiro.

      Where in the source: Post-fight interview.

      Accessed:

  • Khaleej Times, 2024.(opens in a new tab)

    • Her four-week camp combined three daily gym/jiu-jitsu sessions, training with Mariam Al Ali and addressing technical flaws and mindset.

      Where in the source: Pre-fight interview.

      Accessed:

  • Al Bayan, childhood interview.(opens in a new tab)

    • In 2018 she described early apprehension giving way to enthusiasm, supported by siblings Reem and Basel. She envisioned an academy welcoming girls, with Emirati coaches and her siblings helping teach, extending her involvement beyond competition.

      Where in the source: Personal interview and ambitions.

      Accessed:

  • Al Khaleej, May 2020.(opens in a new tab)

    • In 2020 she traced her start at ten to watching brother Basel train, then encouragement from school instructors. Pandemic practice with Reem and Basel developed her handling of heavier partners using their weight. A tenth-grade pupil, she organised study around training and joined federation remote sessions.

      Where in the source: Personal recollections and home training.

      Accessed:

  • The National, August 2017.(opens in a new tab)

    • In August 2017 Al Hashmi trained at Zayed Sports City while seeking one of four UAE places for the under-15 Balkan Open.

      Where in the source: Training captions and selection paragraph.

      Accessed:

  • Gulf Today, August 2023.(opens in a new tab)

    • Gulf Today reported adult world gold in Mongolia and under-21 gold in Astana in 2023. Recalling the Mongolia final, she highlighted an unnamed coach's reminder to focus until the last seconds. She hoped to reach brown and black belt and win a medal at Abu Dhabi World Pro.

      Where in the source: Personal reflection after Mongolia.

      Accessed:

  • Al Bayan, academy plans.(opens in a new tab)

    • She discussed an academy with Asma Al Hosani and Al Anoud Al Harbi, staffed by Emirati women. Jokingly assigning adult and under-16 teaching to her colleagues, she imagined overseeing it. The project remained an aspiration without an opening date.

      Where in the source: Academy proposal and closing paragraph.

      Accessed:

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