Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Festival: Kazakh teenager Dinara Muratova lights up Ipic Arena

There were a few girls who impressed on Day 2 of but none more so than Dinara Muratova, a 14 year old from Kazakhstan, who won a gold medal in the 63-kilogramme yellow/orange/green belt.

Dinara Muratova of Kazakhstan fights Badreya Ahmed Al Meqbaali of UAE during the teen girls 63kg yellow, orange, green belt semi-final during the Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Festival at the IPIC Arena in the Zayed Sport City area of Abu Dhabi on April 11, 2017. Christopher Pike / The NationalShow less

ABU DHABI // There were a few girls who impressed on Day 2 of the Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Festival but none more so than Dinara Muratova, a 14 year old from Kazakhstan, who won a gold medal in the 63-kilogramme yellow/orange/green belt for teenagers at the Ipic Arena on Tuesday.

She eased past her two Emirati opponents and now moves to her main event in Sunday’s Abu Dhabi World Youth Championship.

Dinara is no stranger to Abu Dhabi. She took gold in her first appearance at the World Youth Championship in the white belt last year and will compete in the yellow/orange/green belt category this time around.

“My coach thought the Festival event was a pretty good prep competition so I arrived with my team a few days early to participate in both competitions,” she said.

Dinara won her opening bout over Badreya Al Meqbaali by submission and got the better of Maitha Al Baloushi 2-0 on points.

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“Fights are fights, although there were no elements of surprises on this occasion,” Muratova said. “Now I get a nice little break ahead of the World Youth. I’m here with my team and the next few days will be to prepare for the big event. This time I’m up a few levels and looking forward for some tough fights ahead.”

Joining her on Sunday is Dominique de Beer, 17, a Grade 11 pupil from The Cambridge High School – Abu Dhabi.

“It will be my third year in the World Youth,” said the tall South African after claiming gold in the juvenile blue belt 82kg for the Al Forsan Club. “I have done it twice and looking to complete the hat-trick. I was competing in the blue belt last year but another year also means the bar raised, with fighters from around the world expected.”

She overcame Noora Al Darmaki in the first round and Hamdah Al Dhaheri in her final.

On the home front Emiratis Sharifa Al Naamani and Aisha Al Mehairi are expected to add to their gold medals from the Festival when they take part in the World Youth tournament.

Sharifa won gold in the 52kg juvenile blue belt and Aisha in the 63kg white, with their Brazilian coach Andrea Endy talking up their chances for next week.

“Sharifa works with her school coach Renata [Lopes] and then joins me at Al Jazira, and she is a medal prospect for the club in the World Youth,” Endy said. “Aisha is amazing. She has only trained for a few weeks and she wins a gold in her first competition. We see her as a medal prospect too in the World Youth.

“Today we had five girls [competing] and we won three gold and a bronze. It’s been a good day’s work from the girls and now we shift their focus for Sunday’s competition. We have a few girls short listed and we are hopeful.”

The first two days of the Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Festival saw more than 1,600 girls compete over two days for 246 gold medals.

Muhra Helmi Salem aims to go one better

After coming up short twice previously, Muhra Helmi Salem hopes to make it third time lucky in her attempt to strike gold in Sunday’s Abu Dhabi World Youth Championship.

The Emirati, 16, from Umm Al Emarat School in Al Ain, won gold in the juvenile blue belt 57 kilogram weight on Day 2 of the Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Festival at the Ipic Arena yesterday.

“I have done this previously but the gold medal at the World Youth has eluded me,” said Salem, the product of the Abu Dhabi Educational Council’s Jiu-Jitsu School Programme.

“It’s a difficult year as I have to cope with my studies but I have never missed jiu-jitsu training and I’m hopeful I get the reward this time. I have had a good season, too, and winning today has also done good for my confidence.”

Her coach, Danielle Silva, has great faith in her student, due to her hard work and preparation.

“She’s the type of girl who will not get distracted when it comes to both her studies and training,” the Brazilian said. “As a coach, it’s also my responsibility to check their marks on the school reports, and Muhra is one of them that I don’t have to worry about.

“I need to do this to get the release from parents. Good marks mean they can go for training. Muhra has done exceptionally well in both this year and I can only wish she get the gold at the World Youth.”

SCHEDULE

Wednesday:

11am to 4pm: Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu World Festival for boys

Thursday:

11am to 4pm: Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu World Festival for boys

Friday:

10.30am to 5pm: Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Festival White belt adult and Masters. Abu Dhabi World Parajiu-jitsu Festival.

Saturday:

10.30am to 5pm: Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Festival Female Masters and Male Masters 3 and 4.

April 16:

11am to 5pm: Abu Dhabi World Youth Championship (girls)

April 17:

11am to 5pm: Abu Dhabi World Youth Championship (boys)

April 18 to 22:

11am to 6pm: Ninth Abu Dhabi World Professional Championship

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