Brazilian Pinto taked open-weight division gold
AL AIN // Paulo Pinto led a Brazilian sweep of the black belt titles in the Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Open on Saturday.
The 33-year-old coach, representing the Command Group BJJ, got the better of Mauricio Lima in the open weight division to deny his compatriot a double at the UAE University’s Sports Hall in Al Maqam.
“Any fight in the black belt division is very tough to win. I guess it was my day, and I am very happy I still am able to win in the open weight class at my age,” said Pinto, a double gold medallist in the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship Masters category in April.
“I have been in Abu Dhabi for just over a year and have taken part in all the competitions. I am still enjoying competing and looking forward for another good season in the Emirates.”
Pinto, who coaches at the UAE Military’s special forces, said it would not be long before Emiratis are winning at world events.
“Abu Dhabi is already the best venue for the sport and in my opinion the Emirati fighters will be among the best in the world in the black belt category in another two years,” he said.
Lima won the black belt in the over 95 kilogram weight division, beating another Brazilian, Carlos Rodriguez.
Alexandre Moreira took the 95kg final from Flavio Serafin and Michel Maia overcame Tiago Santos in the 75kg, in all-Brazilian finals. Filipe Bobrick defeated American Cameron Knight in the 85kg final.
Lawrence McAvinue, 24, made a memorable first appearance in the UAE just two months after moving from Britain.
He won the blue belt 95kg and was runner up to Islam Kokurkhoyev, his Russian teammate from Team Nogueira Dubai, in the open division.
“I knew jiu-jitsu was very popular before I took up the new job in Dubai. So aside from my new job I trained very hard over the two months to prepare for this competition,” said McAvinue.
McAvinue took up jiu-jitsu only two years ago and the gold medal in the Al Ain Open was his second after winning gold in the white belt at the Manchester Open.
“I want to keep going by participating in every competition in the UAE with an obvious objective of competing in the Abu Dhabi World Professional championships,” he said.
Kuwait were well represented with 22 fighters and returned with one gold, a silver and five bronze medals.
“The sport is growing in popularity in Kuwait and everyone wants to compete in the UAE because it has now become the hub for jiu-jitsu,” said Sultan Saadah, who won a bronze in the white belt 95+kg.
“We have three major academies and three others, and the numbers are increasing.
“I came here for the first time but most of my colleagues have been here for more than five competitions.”
apassela@thenational.ae
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