ABU DHABI // The big guns take centre stage in the seventh Abu Dhabi World Professional Championships at Zayed Sports City’s IPIC Arena starting on Thursday, with Brazilians likely to feature prominently when the medals are handed out over the next three days.
Brazil has dominated the championships since its inception in 2009, and top the entry charts for this year’s edition with 337 players including Marcus Almeida and Gabriella Garcia, the reigning champions in the men’s and women’s absolute classes.
Next best represented is the UAE; Emiratis number 191, followed by Colombia (136), the United States (88), Russia (77) and Angola (59).
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The African nation won three gold medals, three silvers, and two bronze in the Children’s Cup that preceded the World Pro. They want to make an even bigger impression on the biggest stage these next three days.
“Jiu-jitsu is one of the fastest growing sports in the country and the numbers that have travelled to Abu Dhabi doesn’t surprise me,” said Sebastien Garneir, a coach and competitor in the brown-belt 85-kilogram-weight division. “All those who travelled from Angola have come well prepared.
“They have taken part in competitions in Los Angeles, South Africa, Brazil and Europe. So they have good experience.”
Garneir has competed in four World Championships in Los Angeles but this will be his first appearance at the World Pro in Abu Dhabi.
Another Angolan, Ruben Lemos, made a second-round exit in his first appearance in Abu Dhabi last year but says he’s “ready for the challenge” in the 85kg purple-belt category.
“Everyone here have come with the same intentions of winning and so are we,” said Katharina Araujo, a white-belt bronze medallist last year. She meets Amanda Silva of Brazil in her first fight in the 75kg blue belt.
The Brazilians have dominated the Abu Dhabi event in both the men and women’s divisions but the gap may be narrowing.
“It has never been easy anyway,” said Rodolfo Vieira, winner of his weight division for five years and the absolute class for two years before he lost the latter title to his Brazilian compatriot Almeida in 2013 and 2015.
“The Brazilians have had the edge over the others because they still are the best in the martial art.
“And like any other top-notch championships the Abu Dhabi event attracts the best from around the world.
“I have competed in Abu Dhabi from its inception in 2009 and I know how hard it has become to win over the years, and needless to say why the bar is raised every year. It is a world championship!”
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