\n Martial arts prodigy Bailey Mae, who has previously won a world gold medal in Abu Dhabi and a European silver in Serbia, will again travel to Serbia to compete in the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF), European competition.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n Having competed in the under-34kg category in Abu Dhabi in 2024 and the under-37kg in Serbia in 2025, she will move up to a new weight and age category for this year.\n<\/p>\n
\n “She has gone up an age group because she just turned 14, up an age and weight group,” said her father, Jacob Mallin.\n<\/p>\n
\n “She has got a really tough group of girls this time, it will definitely be the toughest one.\n<\/p>\n
\n “Because she has just moved up, she is now at the lower-end of the age bracket, they are 14 and 15.\n<\/p>\n
\n “A couple of the other girls are already 15, they\u2019re all very good \u2013 the girl who won at the worlds last year, gold in that age and weight group, she is in the group, so we know that one is going to be hard.”\n<\/p>\n
\n To date, Bailey, who attends Christopher Whitehead Language College in Worcester, has achieved 52 gold medals, 15 silver medals and six bronze medals in martial arts competitions, with aspirations of adding another medal to her account.\n<\/p>\n
\n “They\u2019re all very good, all the kids from the countries, it is sort of the highest level you can do as a kid,” said Mr Mallin.\n<\/p>\n
\n “She got gold in Abu Dhabi, she was a bit gutted she didn\u2019t get gold in the Europeans last year.\n<\/p>\n
\n “It\u2019s one of those sports, anything can happen, you can\u2019t win everything.\n<\/p>\n
\n “Obviously, it\u2019s a new group, and all the girls are older, so even just to get on a medal would be good.”\n<\/p>\n
\n Alongside representing England, Bailey will be representing Iron Fight Club in Worcester, ran by Piotr Ptasinski.\n<\/p>\n
\n “Piotr has been a massive help with all the extra training in preparation,” he added.\n<\/p>\n
\n “If he didn\u2019t push her so much, she wouldn\u2019t be able to get golds and silver.\n<\/p>\n
\n “They\u2019ve got a good group of kids at Iron Fight Club now, they all push each other \u2013 it is good that Bailey has got a good group of kids behind her and they\u2019re all excited for her to go. They all kind of look up to her.\n<\/p>\n
\n “I’m super proud of her. At the same time it\u2019s a massive credit to Bailey herself because she gives so much time to train.\n<\/p>\n
\n “I wouldn\u2019t say she misses out on stuff but whereas some kids are going out and hanging with their friends, Bailey is in the gym and working hard constantly. A credit to herself really, for doing it.”\n<\/p>\n