Emirati jiu-jitsu players won 147 medals at the Dubai International Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship this weekend as the 14th edition of the event came to a close at Al Ahli Club on Saturday.
The Dubai International Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship welcomed more than 220 local and international jiu-jitsu players to battle it out for medals and prizes worth Dh100,000.
The tournament started on Friday with the No-Gi competition followed by the Gi event on Saturday. A Juveniles category was also included for the first time, which saw more than 20 youngsters take part.
A total of 273 matches — 98 on Friday and 175 on Saturday — took place, with more than 20 countries represented, including the UAE, Brazil, El Salvador, United Kingdom, Iraq, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Lebanon, and Syria.
The UAE’s contingent impressed, winning 68 medals on Friday and 79 on Saturday.
“We are incredibly proud of all the participants who took part in the championship and showcased their immense talent and skills,” Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, H.E Abdul Moneim Al Hashemi, said.
“It was also fantastic to see a full stadium of supporters of the sport as well as participants’ family members and friends who came down to support their favourite players, serving as a testament to the growing popularity of Jiu-Jitsu. On behalf of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, I would like to congratulate all the winners and we look forward to hosting many more such international level tournaments here in the UAE.”
UAE team chase gold in Vietnam
The UAE will be hoping to establish their continental superiority at the fifth Asian Beach Games in Danang, Vietnam when the action gets underway on Sunday.
The UAE are well represented at the three day tournament, with 13 men and 10 women competing for the 18 gold medals that are up for grabs.
Faisal Al Ketbi and Yahia Mansour Al Hammadi are expected to be the UAE’s best gold medal hopes.
Al Ketbi and Al Hammadi are going into the Games having won double and triple gold medals respectively at the inaugural Asian Beach Championships in Sri Lanka which served as a dress rehearsal for Vietnam.
The UAE topped the men’s medals table in Sri Lanka in both the Gi category with three gold, four silver and four bronze, and the No Gi category (without the traditional kimono) with four gold, two silver and a bronze.
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