Afghan mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Hussain Bakhsh Safari and other fighters of the ju-jitsu federation were praised on Monday by the Afghan directorate of physical education and sport.

For the second year in a row, Safari is ranked at the top of the ‘full contact’ category list by ju-jitsu’s international federation.

“One of the most important tools that can motivate athletes morally and spiritually is encouragement and appreciation, and we will take more action to motivate all our heroes in this way,” stated Younus Popalzai, Secretary General of Afghanistan's National Olympic Committee.

“In the ju-jitsu federation, the facilities have not changed compared to previous years. The only thing that has been done is the encouragement of athletes and this has caused them to create many honors in the last two years,” said Mohammad Sabari, head of the ju-jitsu federation.

Hussain Bakhsh Safari and a number of other athletes say the government support has a positive effect on sport activities.

“My request to the Afghan Sports Authority is that they do something fundamental for the athletes so that the athletes can pursue national and international success in the future with calm nerves and calm thinking,” said Safari.

Safari won a gold medal in the “Full Contact” category of ju-jitsu and a bronze medal in the ju-jitsu competitions at the Asian Ju-Jitsu Championships held last year in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia.