ABU DHABI // Marzouq Masood Al Alawi had to sit out the inaugural Martyrs Jiu-Jitsu Championship last year as he did not make the age-to-weight category.
This time around, he made it to the competition and returned with a gold medal which he dedicated to the sacrifices of Emirati servicemen and women.
“I fully understand what it means to be in the service because both my mother and father are in the military,” said the Grade 10 pupil from Darweesh bin Karam School, Abu Dhabi, after winning the white belt 72-kilogram final at the Ipic Arena.
“I have won six gold, a silver and four bronze in my four years in jiu-jitsu but this one I won tonight will have a special place in the cabinet. My parents, too, will be proud of this achievement.”
Al Alawi, who turns 16 on Monday, is the only child in the family but has no plans of following in parents’ footsteps.
“My mother [Abir] is completing around 15 years in the army and father [Masood] counts more than 25 years in the navy,” he said. “I want to pursue a career in aircraft engineering.
“However, I’m a son of this soil and my upbringing has made me realise the contribution of our servicemen to the nation.
“This championship provides the youth of the country to stand up and salute them for the sacrifices they have made.”
The competition for boys had 80 gold medals up for grabs, and drew more than 1,630 competitors from around the country.
Among them was Omar Al Fadhli, 16, a member of the UAE national team who retained his blue belt title in the 55kg weight division.
“The competition was tough as any other,” said Al Fadhli, who got the better of Sultan Salem Al Dhaheri in the final.
“This competition is different to the others. The emotions are high and everyone want to win for our Martyrs.”
On Friday, the Emirati girls turned up in numbers — 1,488 to be precise — in a jiu-jitsu competition honouring the Emirati servicemen and women who gave their lives in the line of duty.
Almost every competitor said they wanted to dedicate their efforts on the mat, regardless if they won a medal or not, to those brave Emirati servicemen and women.
“I wanted to show my gratitude by participating in this competition,” said Shaikha Jasim Al Raeesi, 13, who won a gold in the white belt 48 kilogram division for juniors.
“I have won a gold at the Al Ain Kids International last month and I felt I had another opportunity here. However, that wasn’t the only reason.
“My parents have told me about the duties of our servicemen and women. I felt I had an obligation as a member of the jiu-jitsu fraternity to participate.
“This result obviously makes me happy now that I return home with a second gold medal in two months.
“But more important for me is that I travelled to Abu Dhabi to be part of this movement. And I’m overwhelmed by what I have seen.”
Shamsa Al Ketbi who has won 13 gold and two silver medals since she took up jiu-jitsu three years ago, had to settle for a bronze.
“I’m not disappointed at all at the result but just glad to note how tough this competition has turned out to be,” said the schoolgirl from Al Montaha in Abu Dhabi.
The gold medal in the grey belt 63kg for juniors was won by Alia Al Dhaheri of Al Muraijib School from Anood Al Kuwaiti of Al Hosoon School.
There were a total of 70 gold medals up for grabs at the second staging of the Martyrs Championship for girls.
One of the highlights was three gold medals won from the same household, the Hanaei sisters — Maha (blue belt 63kg), Mahra (green 52kg) and Hana (grey 40kg) — from Al Ain.
The competition is part of the nationwide campaign, #The_UAE_Remembers, launched by the Martyrs Families Affairs Office to commemorate the Emirati servicemen who have given their lives on duty.
Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club topped the overall medals table with 11 gold, five silver and a bronze, which also included the 70 finals for girls took part in on the opening day on Friday.
They edged out Al Maqam School, who also won the same number of gold medals but four silver and two bronze.
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