ABU DHABI // Yahia Mansour Al Hammadi will be attempting to make it a hat-trick of Masters-1 gold medals on Friday at the ninth Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship at the Ipic Arena.
The Emirati, competing in the brown belt 94-kilogramme weight, is one of the longest serving members of the UAE national team.
Al Hammadi has won this division the previous two years. He was also successful in the white belt in 2009 and in the blue belt in 2012. If he is successful this time, it will be his fifth gold in the World Pro.
“To win every competition is always the goal,” he said. “It’s not only me but all my teammates as well. We have had an excellent preparation camp and we are all ready to strike gold.
“The competition is always tough. We don’t know what to expect around the next corner but we are going with confidence. For me, it has been one of my best seasons. I hope I can round it off with another gold in the World Pro.”
Al Hammadi has enjoyed a hugely successful year so far, winning won double gold in the Asian Beach Championships in Sri Lanka and the Asian Beach Games in Vietnam. He also won gold in the Grand Slams in Tokyo, Los Angeles and Abu Dhabi.
Joining Al Hammadi today on the mat today are Faisal Al Ketbi, Ibrahim Al Hosani, Taleb Al Kirbi and Zayed Al Kaabi.
Meanwhile, Ahmed Suhail Al Ketbi added a fourth gold to the UAE’s overall haul by claiming the brown belt 69kg Masters-2 from Briton Neil Atkins yesterday.
Al Ketbi was all praise to the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation for the backing they have provided to the Emiratis.
“We wouldn’t have achieved this without the support of our federation,” he said. “They have helped us to build our confidence and match our own levels with the elite players from Brazil, Russia and the United States of America.
“We are now competing in world circuit and are excelling and winning medals. This is great for us, and great for the development of jiu-jitsu in the UAE.”
apassela@thenational.ae
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What is the definition of an SME?
SMEs in the UAE are defined by the number of employees, annual turnover and sector. For example, a “small company” in the services industry has six to 50 employees with a turnover of more than Dh2 million up to Dh20m, while in the manufacturing industry the requirements are 10 to 100 employees with a turnover of more than Dh3m up to Dh50m, according to Dubai SME, an agency of the Department of Economic Development.
A “medium-sized company” can either have staff of 51 to 200 employees or 101 to 250 employees, and a turnover less than or equal to Dh200m or Dh250m, again depending on whether the business is in the trading, manufacturing or services sectors.
School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
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Where can I submit a sample?
Volunteers can now submit DNA samples at a number of centres across Abu Dhabi. The programme is open to all ages.
Collection centres in Abu Dhabi include:
- Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
- Biogenix Labs in Masdar City
- Al Towayya in Al Ain
- NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City
- Bareen International Hospital
- NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
- NMC Royal Medical Centre - Abu Dhabi
- NMC Royal Women’s Hospital.
