The Dubai Jiu-Jitsu Open Championship this weekend is part of an effort to extend the popularity of the sport out of its Abu Dhabi base and into the rest of the country, organisers said on Tuesday.
"Our long-term objective is that the sport reaches every home in the UAE," said Fahad Ali Al Shamsi, chief executive of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation and general secretary of the Asian Jiu-Jitsu Union
“Our target was to have a large base of jiu-jitsu players. I think we are on the path to realising this dream and Dubai Jiu-Jitsu Open Championship is another leap towards the success that will be continuing with the next championships in Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah.”
The second edition of the Dubai competition takes place at Al Wasl club on Friday (No Gi) and Saturday (Gi) and is organised by the Dubai Sports Council.
The first day will feature 133 players from 30 countries, with 203 from 41 competing on Day 2.
Faisal Al Ketbi, the Emirati gold medallist at the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship and the first Emirati black belt holder, is among the 113 Emiratis who will compete, including his UAE teammates Taleb Al Kurbi and Eid Rehan Al Tunaiji.
Al Shamsi hopes the growth of tournaments around the country will lead to additional players.
“I wish the Dubai schools will embrace jiu-jitsu into their curriculum,” he said. “More than 100 schools in Abu Dhabi have already done so and the number of players has reached over 40,000, both boys and girls.”
The Dubai competition is set to become a fixture in the UAE jiu-jitsu calendar.
“We, at the federation, are striving hard to improve the quality of the competitions, increase participation and draw new audiences to the sport in all Emirates,” said Mohammed Humaid Bin Dalmoog Al Dhaheri, board member of UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation.
“We are delighted to say jiu-jitsu has grown remarkably well over the past few years and is still growing.”
akhaled@thenational.ae
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