ABU DHABI // The Abu Dhabi Junior World Jiu-Jitsu Cup has provided the opportunity for Emirati girls and boys to pit their skills on the sport's biggest stage yet.
The competition has drawn more than 1,500 entries from the UAE and around the world. It begins Tuesday and ends Wednesday, ahead of the main World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
“This championship is an excellent platform for the youngsters,” said Fahad Ali Al Shamsi, chief executive of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation and the general secretary of the Asian Jiu-Jitsu Union.
“Our objective is to nurture future stars and this competition provides them the opportunity. The response has been overwhelming. The numbers have doubled from last year and we are thrilled.”
The sixth edition of the championship is staged over five days at the FGB Arena at Zayed Sports City.
The World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship is expected to draw more than 700 fighters, competing for a slice of the Dh1.6 million prize money, starting on Thursday.
The majority of the winners from last year, including Marcus Almeida and Gabriella Garcia in the men’s and women’s open divisions, return for their title defences.
“We are still trying to do everything within our capacity to bring further improvements, because our objective is to take jiu-jitsu right on top of the martial arts sports,” Al Shamsi said. Aside from the action on the mat, spectators can win daily prizes, including two cars, from the raffle draws. There are also online competitions for the best photo and best video using the official championship hashtag, #WPJJC, with cash prizes of up to Dh30,000.
The Instagram video of the tournament that garners the most “likes” can win Dh10,000. On Twitter, two winners will receive Dh10,000 each for the picture in the FGB Arena with the most tweets.
“The prizes are to encourage the crowds to get involved in the championship. There will also be a lot of side events and competitions for visitors,” Al Shamsi said.
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