ABU DHABI // The ninth staging of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship in April has been extended from 10 to 14 days this year to accommodate the growing number of entries.
The number of entries – both local fighters and from overseas – has grown every year for the sport’s richest event, which featured Dh2.5 million in prize money last year, which is likely to be increased again this year.
According to Abdulmunam Al Hashemi, chairman of UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, the competitions organised both locally and abroad under the umbrella of the federation is set to reach 100,000 competitors in 2020.
“It is a good sign for the sport, and as administrators and of the sport promoters we must find ways and means to provide more opportunities for the players to compete and win,” said Al Hashemi, who is also the chairman of the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Union.
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“In the UAE alone the numbers are reaching 100,000 out of which around 70,000 are the youth of the country.
“The sport is also popular and widely practised by the expatriate community of all ages and levels.”
The UAE jiu-jitsu national team hosted a reception with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces on Monday.
“This is the real glory of this sport,” Al Hashemi said. “In any sport and in any nation, to have the opportunity to meet two of the most influential people in the country is a real honour. Our players cannot get better motivated than meeting them. This sport is growing fast and going places.”
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed is the UAE’s main patron of jiu-jitsu, and Al Hashemi said it is his vision to promote and develop the sport not only in the UAE but internationally.
“The success we have had beyond doubt is because of the support we receive from Sheikh Mohammed and of course the excellent team work from the jiu-jitsu community,” said Al Hashemi, who emphasised that the sport’s inclusion at the 2024 Olympics is their long-term goal.
Jiu-jitsu has been included in the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and in the inaugural World Beach Games in San Diego next year. It was included in the fourth Asian Beach Games in Phuket in 2014 and in Vietnam last year.
Fahad Ali Al Shamsi, UAEJJF chief executive, said the competitions have increased beyond all expectations.
“The growth has been remarkable when we compare from the first time we ventured in conducting competitions in 2013 and up to now,” he said.
“That year we staged seven competitions. This number rose to 29 in the following year, to 61 in 2015 and 109 in 2016. And the number of entries from 3,058 adult competitors in 2013 reached 43,871 in 2016.
“In the youth and children’s category, we had 5,600 competitors in 2013. This number skyrocketed to 98,100 last year.”
On the World Pro being stretched over two weeks of competition at Ipic Arena in Abu Dhabi, Al Shamshi said: “When we extended it to 10 days there were concerns but we enjoyed remarkable success. This is also a festival of jiu-jitsu with plenty of activities around for the entire family to enjoy.”
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