A teenager from Parow North is set to represent South Africa at the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) 2025 Youth Championship taking place at the end of the month in Abu Dhabi.
Hannah Mohamed (13) leaves for the Al Ain, Abu Dhabi in the Middle East this week to compete between 20 and 27 July.
She is currently training mixed martial arts (MMA) at Go for Broke MMA in Parow North and is coached by Erafaan Jacobs, her mother, Renee Mohamed, told the newspaper.
Hannah took part in the MMA National Championships representing the Western Cape Province recently in Durban where she won gold making her the South African champion. Due to her winning SA Champs, she now has the opportunity to represent South Africa at the prestigious IMMAF championship. She is also the only female in her division who will be representing the Western Province.
Asked about how she feels about going on the trip and what she looks forward to the most, Hannah said gaining knowledge and experience in her combat style.
“I am a bit nervous fighting at Worlds (IMMAF) because it will be difficult as my opponents are world class fighters,” she said.
A dream come true
Hannah, a Grade 7 learner at Parow North Primary School, dreams to be a successful in the sport someday.
“I first started off training Jiu-Jitsu and then after a few months into training, my coach offered Kickboxing and encouraged me to join the classes. This is when I started training five days a week, sometimes on a Saturday too, Kickboxing, Jiu-Jitsu, and the combination, which is MMA,” she says.
Her message to other young girls who would like to take part in the sport is to enter. Her proud parents say this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for their daughter, to wear the Green and Gold and to represent her country on a global stage.
Hannah trains hard every week, balancing school and early mornings, long sessions and a deep desire to become the best version of herself. The family has raised funds for Hannah’s trip as it comes with significant costs, but is also appealing to the public to make a donation.
Visit http://www.facebook.com/share/14TQpTDQsN/ or email renmohamed@gmail.com
