22 September 2026 · 4 min read
Two girls from Abu Dhabi are leading the teen female boxing scene in the UAE.
Female boxing in the UAE took another encouraging step forward at the UAE National Boxing Championships on 19 and 20 September 2026.
Khan claimed gold in the Under-17 female category to become UAE National Champion, while Tijhaan Ajram secured victory in her Under-15 female contest.
Both girls have trained across the UAE in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Their development within the country’s boxing community reflects the opportunity the UAE can offer young athletes from different backgrounds.
Emaan Khan Claims National Gold
Khan’s defining natural quality is her power. She carries strength in her punches and can make opponents respect what is coming back at them.
Winning at national level, however, required more than physical strength. Her Under-17 gold also reflected discipline, composure and the confidence to perform under pressure.
Khan is the niece of former world champion boxer Amir Khan, giving her a genuine family connection to the sport. That heritage provides inspiration, but her national title was earned through her own preparation and performance.
The next stage will be about developing her movement, timing, defence and ring intelligence around the power she already possesses.
“Winning gold and becoming the UAE National Champion feels amazing. I worked hard for this and I’m proud that I stayed focused and got the result. It gives me even more motivation to keep improving and see how far I can go in boxing.”
Emaan Khan
Tijhaan Ajram Makes Her Mark
Ajram brings a different energy to the ring.
Her boxing is shaped by natural flair, sharp movement and speed. She has an instinctive confidence that allows her to create angles, attack quickly and produce moments that immediately catch the eye.
Her victory at the UAE Nationals was another important step for an emerging athlete with clear potential.
The Belief Behind Both Athletes
Behind both journeys is Mudassar Khan, father of Emaan, CEO and founder of NXT Fight.
His connection with Ajram began long before boxing. After recognising her natural flair and speed, he committed himself to supporting her potential, recognising the girls’ different strengths and ensuring their talent is supported with opportunity, structure and long-term guidance.
An Opportunity for UAE Boxing
Young female boxers need visible competitions, credible pathways and examples of other girls succeeding.
The UAE Boxing Federation, participating clubs, coaches and officials deserve recognition for providing athletes with a national platform. The next step is to encourage more girls to begin training and progress into structured competition.
More girls in boxing today means stronger women’s divisions tomorrow.
Khan and Ajram may have been born in the UK, but the UAE is now their home and it is here that they are developing their identities as boxers.
Their victories represent more than two individual results. They offer a glimpse of the young female talent that can help shape the future of boxing in the UAE.
Coach Zorik: “This Is Only the Beginning”
Coach Zorik praised both athletes while making clear that their national success represents the beginning of a much bigger journey.
“We achieved our main goal: the girls worked through the lead hand exactly as we planned. They boxed well, won their fights and should be very proud of themselves. Neither of them had enough notice and still won, which shows there is still much more to come. With consistent training and by following their coach’s instructions, their performances will become even stronger. I’m extremely proud to now have two UAE National Champions on my team. But we must work even harder because the next objective is to become Asian champions. That is where I want to see an even bigger result.”
Coach Zorik Stepanyan
The Next Target
“I am grateful to the UAE Boxing Federation to have been given the chance to show my skills. I have spent all my free time practising and learning. I want more and more females to take up boxing as a sport. If we can, you can, and we will support you.”
Tijhaan Ajram
The UAE Nationals represented an important step, but neither athlete sees it as the final destination. The next ambition is to progress towards the Asian Games and earn the opportunity to compete at international level.
Beyond that, the Olympic dream is there.
Reaching either stage will require years of development, stronger competition and consistent commitment. Nothing is guaranteed, but both girls now have something meaningful to work towards.
Khan leaves the championships as an Under-17 UAE National Champion. Ajram leaves undefeated, with another victory and further evidence of the natural talent that first made her stand out.
Their journey is still at an early stage, but the direction is clear: from national competition towards Asia, and, one day, perhaps the Olympic Games.