Emirati fighters continue to mine precious medals at World Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championships

UAE fighers found plenty of fans in the stands ... Mona Al Marzooqi/ The National

ABU DHABI // The Emirati fighters won four gold, seven silver and four bronze medals, the highlight being the solitary silver in the women’s division won by Sheikha Maitha, daughter of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.

Mohammed Darwish, Mohammed Al Qubaisi, Yahia Mansour and Musabah Al Khatri all bagged gold in the second and penultimate day of the seventh Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship.

Sheikha Maitha came through two fights against Ana Tofolorio of Brazil and Emirati Shefaa Hassan before being edged out on points in the final by Odette Malkoun of Lebanon in the women’s 75-plus kilogramme white belt.

It was a busy schedule with more than 1,000 competitors in action and bouts worked off from 9am until midnight across nine mats and over 50 finals yesterday at the IPIC Arena at the Zayed Sports City.

RELATED:

Al Qubaisi, winner of the purple belt 75kg masters-1, said the competition over the years have become harder and harder to win.

“Abu Dhabi provides the opportunity for everyone to come and compete through a qualification trial and also those who want to travel on their own,” Al Qubaisi said.

“That’s why this event has grown so much in a short period of time.

“It is very hard for us to win, yet it’s good for the competition in Abu Dhabi and the future Emirati players as it provides top-flight competition and the experience, particularly to our younger players.

“So I am very happy I was able to win the gold medal.”

Al Qubaisi won a unanimous points decision over Maksim Davydov of Russia in the final after clinching a split-points decision over Frenchman Azzedine Taj in the semi-final. “The final wasn’t as tough as the semi-final,” he said. “Azzedine was taller and heavier. I couldn’t match his height and weight but used my technique to win that fight.

“In the final I used my technique as well as my opponent’s weaknesses to win by a bigger margin.

“I won two early points and that gave me the confidence.”

Al Qubaisi believes the future is bright for the UAE, with the number of youngsters drawn to the sport.

“We started late but have laid the platform for the next generation to take the nation to the next level,” he said.

“They have got a head start and I am sure they will do even better than us on the international circuit.

“There is tremendous amount of interest and this year we have seen more than 2,500 Emirati boys and girls competing in the Children’s Cup.”

Darwish bagged gold in the white belt 95kg-plus, Mansour in the purple masters-1 95kg-plus and Al Khatri in the 65kg white/blue masters-1.

Follow us on twitter at @NatSportUAE