ABU DHABI // Faisal Al Ketbi lived up to his top billing. The Emirati was an impressive winner of the 100-kilogram brown-belt division over the American Hans Borchardt in the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship on Thursday.
It was Al Ketbi’s fifth gold medal in the championship since the Abu Dhabi event was established in 2009. He won the gold in the blue belt in the first two years, and the silver in 2011.
He won the gold in the purple belt in 2012 and completed the double in the brown belt 100kgs last night at the Zayed Sports City’s FGB Arena.
Al Ketbi took less than three minutes to complete the job. He won two early points from a takedown and got a side control and mount to increase his lead to seven before having the American in a submissive arm lock.
“I was lucky to get an early lead. It was good to be in the lead so early because you feel comfortable, and give the power and confidence to hold on to the lead,” he said.
“This is the first time I faced Borchardt. He arrived here after winning the trials in New York. So he deserved to be here, but bad luck for him that he had to face me.”
Al Ketbi,26, insisted every medal he won in the annual championship in Abu Dhabi was as good as the other for him.
“This is an achievement not only for me, but the county, the UAEJJ Federation and to my people. I hope to do better every time I go into any competition,” he said.
“I am also not alone in this championship. My teammates have worked very hard with me and they will also go into the competition in their respective categories on Friday [today]. I wish they will all have the same success I had.
“We have seen hundreds of Emirati children participate in the first two days and my wish is that they, too, will come onto the bigger stage and bring more glory from this sport to the country.”
Al Ketbi will be looking to complete a double when he competes in the open weight on the final day on Saturday.
“I have won it twice in the purple belt and hope to win it for the first time in brown,” he said.
“This is the bigger challenge that comes next for me. God willing, I will win it for my fans and the country.”
Brazilians Marcos Almeida and Rodolfo Vieira remained on course for another meeting in the black-belt open class, winning the gold medals in the 100+ and 100 kg weight divisions, respectively.
Almeida, the defending champion of the open division, got the better of Alexander Trans of Denmark and Vieira outclassed compatriot Luiz Panza.
“I am happy with my win in the weight class, but there is no guarantee for anyone to be in the open final,” Vieira said.
“There are so many good fighters in this competition and it is very hard to say who is going be in the final. I think everyone will have the same objective to reach the open final, which is the ultimate prize to win in this championship.”
The winner of the open final will receive US$30,000 (Dh110,165), the biggest share of the Dh1.6m total purse.
In the women’s championship, Gabriele Garcia clinched her fifth straight gold in the 72kg+ brown/black belt and is the favourite to take the open class on Saturday.
The Brazilian had the better of Dominyka Obelenyta, 18, of Lithuania, but insisted it was a very tough fight, although it appeared to be easy.
“The new generation fighters are like iron ladies,” Garcia said.
“They are very strong and very combative. Dominyka is young, tall and strong, and a good future prospect.”
Garcia remains undefeated in Abu Dhabi in five appearances. She claimed her fifth gold in her weight class and has two open division gold, since it was established two years ago.
The Brazilians once again dominated the opening day’s championship for the professionals.
They made a clean sweep of all eight gold medals in the men’s black belt and all four in the women’s section.
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Your Guide to the Home
- Level 1 has a valet service if you choose not to park in the basement level. This level houses all the kitchenware, including covetable brand French Bull, along with a wide array of outdoor furnishings, lamps and lighting solutions, textiles like curtains, towels, cushions and bedding, and plenty of other home accessories.
- Level 2 features curated inspiration zones and solutions for bedrooms, living rooms and dining spaces. This is also where you’d go to customise your sofas and beds, and pick and choose from more than a dozen mattress options.
- Level 3 features The Home’s “man cave” set-up and a display of industrial and rustic furnishings. This level also has a mother’s room, a play area for children with staff to watch over the kids, furniture for nurseries and children’s rooms, and the store’s design studio.
The specS: 2018 Toyota Camry
Price: base / as tested: Dh91,000 / Dh114,000
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 298hp @ 6,600rpm
Torque: 356Nm @ 4,700rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Plan to boost public schools
A major shake-up of government-run schools was rolled out across the country in 2017. Known as the Emirati School Model, it placed more emphasis on maths and science while also adding practical skills to the curriculum.
It was accompanied by the promise of a Dh5 billion investment, over six years, to pay for state-of-the-art infrastructure improvements.
Aspects of the school model will be extended to international private schools, the education minister has previously suggested.
Recent developments have also included the introduction of moral education - which public and private schools both must teach - along with reform of the exams system and tougher teacher licensing requirements.
TWISTERS
Director: Lee Isaac Chung
Starring: Glen Powell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Anthony Ramos
Rating: 2.5/5
Recipe
Garlicky shrimp in olive oil
Gambas Al Ajillo
Preparation time: 5 to 10 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Serves 4
Ingredients
180ml extra virgin olive oil; 4 to 5 large cloves of garlic, minced or pureed (or 3 to 4 garlic scapes, roughly chopped); 1 or 2 small hot red chillies, dried (or ¼ teaspoon dried red chilli flakes); 400g raw prawns, deveined, heads removed and tails left intact; a generous splash of sweet chilli vinegar; sea salt flakes for seasoning; a small handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
Method
▶ Heat the oil in a terracotta dish or frying pan. Once the oil is sizzling hot, add the garlic and chilli, stirring continuously for about 10 seconds until golden and aromatic.
▶ Add a splash of sweet chilli vinegar and as it vigorously simmers, releasing perfumed aromas, add the prawns and cook, stirring a few times.
▶ Once the prawns turn pink, after 1 or 2 minutes of cooking, remove from the heat and season with sea salt flakes.
▶ Once the prawns are cool enough to eat, scatter with parsley and serve with small forks or toothpicks as the perfect sharing starter. Finish off with crusty bread to soak up all that flavour-infused olive oil.
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
At Eternity’s Gate
Director: Julian Schnabel
Starring: Willem Dafoe, Oscar Isaacs, Mads Mikkelsen
Three stars
Film: Raid
Dir: Rajkumar Gupta
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Ileana D'cruz and Saurabh Shukla
Verdict: Three stars
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
RESULT
Liverpool 4 Southampton 0
Jota (2', 32')
Thiago (37')
Van Dijk (52')
Man of the match: Diogo Jota (Liverpool)
List of alleged parties
- May 15 2020: Boris Johnson is said to have attended a Downing Street pizza party
- 27 Nov 2020: PM gives speech at leaving do for his staff
- Dec 10 2020: Staff party held by then-education secretary Gavin Williamson
- Dec 13 2020: Mr Johnson and his then-fiancee Carrie Symonds throw a flat party
- Dec 14 2020: Shaun Bailey holds staff party at Conservative Party headquarters
- Dec 15 2020: PM takes part in a staff quiz
- Dec 18 2020: Downing Street Christmas party
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
