The UAE’s jiu-jitsu calender is stacked for the next week with both domestic and international competitions taking place.
The action kicks off this Friday and Saturday with the Al Ain Kids International taking place at the UAE University auditorium in Al Ain. On Sunday, he 12-member UAE national team takes part in latest leg of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam in Tokyo, while next weekend in the men and women’s turn in the Al Ain International.
Yahia Mansour Al Hammadi and Faisal Al Ketbi will be hoping to continue with their medal-winning streak after they emerged as the continent's best, following their gold medals in the fifth Asian Beach Games in Vietnam last month. They won their respective weight categories and they also reached the final in the absolute division.
See also:
• Asian Beach Games: Yahia Mansour Al Hammadi wins two gold medals in men's jiu-jitsu
• 'They have done the country proud': UAE take stock of jiu-jitsu progress, and look ahead
“With those results both Yahia and Faisal underlined their status as the best in Asia,” said the UAE team’s Brazilian coach Roberto Lima.
“The team hasn’t stopped training since their preparation for the inaugural Asian Beach Championships in Sri Lanka and the Asian Beach Games in Vietnam. They are in good shape travelling to Tokyo.
“The improvement have come from the number of competitions they take part in every year. Tokyo is another challenge, but the biggest test this year would be December’s world’s in Poland.”
Al Ketbi remains the country’s No 1 despite losing his finals at both the Asian Beach Championship and the Asian Beach Games in the absolute division to compatriot Al Hammadi.
In domestic competition, the Al Ain Kids International has drawn more than 2,500 boys and girls, made up of Emiratis, expatriates and several players from overseas.
“We are thrilled to roll out our mats for the younger generation of jiu-jitsu athletes,” said Abdulmunam Al Hashemi, chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation.
“These kids are the future of the sport and it is our responsibility to nurture and encourage talent to further accelerate interest in the sport.”
The first day will be for girls with over 1,000 participants, while the boys are in action on the second day.
The Al Ain International for adults is for No-Gi, without the traditional kimono, and the second day for Gi.
The UAE national team squad for Grand Slam Tokyo:
Mohammed Saeed Al Mehri (White belt 62 kilogram), Saeed bin Fahad (White 69kg), Mubarak Amro (White 94kg), Zayed Al Mansouri (Blue 62kg), Ibrahim Al Naqbi (Blue 94kg), Saeed Al Shamsi (Blue 77kg), Sultan Al Nowais (Blue 69kg), Nasser Al Breiki (Blue 69kg), Ibrahim Al Hosani (Purple 69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi (Brown 77kg), Yahia Mansour Al Hammadi (Brown 110kg), Faisal Al Ketbi (Black 85kg).
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