ABU DHABI // The final day of the World Jiu-Jitsu Children’s Cup 2015 produced another batch of young Emirati champions. But for one of the country’s gifted players, there was nothing but disappointment.
Ahmed Al Rejaibi was expected to walk away with gold in the blue-belt 61.5 kilograms category. It was not to be.
Al Rejaibi, 16, looked disconsolate as the crowds drifted away and the participants prepared to pack up and leave IPIC Arena at Zayed Sports City.
No wonder, considering the manner of his defeat.
“I played against a fighter from Azerbaijan, I was winning by a big score, 11-0,” he said. “But then he pulled a submission move on me.
“I attempted to get out of it but unfortunately did it in an illegal way, so the referee penalised me. It was my only match today.”
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Having won bronze at the American Kids National Championship last October, Al Rejaibi followed that up with gold at the European Junior Championship in Portugal in January and again at the Jiu-Jitsu International Federation’s Junior World Championships in Greece last month.
Hopes were high he would add more gold in his hometown tournament. At the end of the day’s events, his friends and colleagues, many with medals of their own, rallied to raise his spirits.
“I’m very upset,” he said. “I had ambitions to be at the top.”
Though clearly down, he promised that failure would motivate him to come back stronger.
“I will work harder to fix my mistakes, and train even more for the upcoming competitions,” he said.
“I train here at IPIC Arena, six times a week. We practice morning and evening. I will double my efforts now.”
Al Rejaibi is already looking forward to taking part in this event again next year.
“I will be the first one here,” he said, finally raising a smile. Next year, I’ll still be in the juvenile category.
“God knows which division I’ll be in, that will depend on my weight, but inshallah I will finish first.”
Other UAE nationals faired better, with some working harder for their medals than others.
After a long day, Fahad Al Otaibi emerged with a silver medal in the under 66kg blue-belt section.
“I took part in five fights,” Al Otaibi, 17, said. “I won the first four but lost the final. “All the fights were very competitive, vicious, the players were extremely proficient, very strong.”
The Al Ain Club member had enough self-awareness to know where he fell short.
“The fights were both technical and strong,” he said. Honestly, it was very tough, but if it’s not this way, people would not watch.
“In the final I was trying to use my skills but the Russian fighter had superior strength.
“I rely on my technique because my strength is not what it should be.”
He will no doubt work on that aspect of his game over the coming months.
“Next year I’ll be playing with the adults,” he said, adding he has total faith he can compete with the men.
“You have to be confident in yourself, trust yourself, but above all you have to count on God’s blessing.”
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