ABU DHABI // Ibrahim Al Maazmi stood out as the lone success for the UAE in the Masters white, blue, and purple belt categories on Day 2 of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Al Maazmi clinched his first gold medal in a discipline he took up only a year ago, edging out Daniyar Jumaniyazov of Kazakhstan in the Masters-2 white 62-kilogram final at the Ipic Arena on Wednesday.
“I won a silver at the Dubai Open and bronze at the Sharjah Open. And now to stand on the podium with a gold medal and the UAE flag in a world championship is like a dream come true,” Al Maazmi said.
“It was very tough fight but I cannot describe my feelings as a late starter and newcomer to the sport.”
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Al Maazmi’s success was built on a series of events increasingly familiar to many Emiratis on the mat.
“I use to be a long distance runner in my young days from 1989 and represented Al Shaab Club. I gave up athletics after about 10 years but never gave up on my fitness work,” he said.
“How I started jiu-jitsu was accidental. Classes are conducted at the Sharjah Club gym where I go for my fitness training and one day I dropped in just to see what was going on.
“One of my colleagues, Ibrahim Al Hosani, who happened to be a national-team player, asked me to try. I told him I wasn’t ready and didn’t have a kimono. He insisted I buy one immediately and join straightaway, which I did.”
Kazakhstan topped the medals table in the Masters division with 10 gold, ahead of Colombia (6) and Russia (4).
The central Asian nation arrived with a strong contingent of 100 players, below only Brazil (470), UAE (192), Colombia (104) and Russia (101).
The championship has drawn 1,540 men and 212 women from 88 countries competing in five different belt categories and with Dh2.5 million in prize money.
Yadgar Kassymov, winner of the Masters-1 purple belt 85kg final to secure gold in his second attempt at the Abu Dhabi World Pro, believes the number of players competing from his native Kazakhstan will only continue to rise as the martial arts popularity grows worldwide.
“Samba and wrestling are popular and traditional sports in central Asia but many are now taking up jiu-jitsu because of its popularity internationally and the transition being easier,” he said.
“It is my second time in the World Pro but the others have been coming quite regularly. This time the numbers have increased, as if we have come for the Olympics.”
Portugal won two golds with Jose Cunha and Paulo Pereira defeating Edman Jun-Al Pole of the Philippines and Emirati Obaid Khamis Al Kaabi respectively.
“It’s an unbelievable achievement for me to win Portugal’s second gold. This is something special,” Pereira said.
“I really had to work hard and this was my first time competing in Abu Dhabi, and it’s a great tournament. The standard of level here is very high, so I knew I had to work very hard.”
Ali Hemadeh, who has a day job as a veterinarian and trains in jiu-jitsu in the evening, clinched Lebanon’s solitary gold.
He overcame Diamantis Tsouparis of Greece in the Masters-2 blue belt 77kg final and had to settle for a bronze in the open weight behind Yann Sagot of France and Russia’s Andrey Pilipets.
“To return with two medals is a satisfying day’s work for me,” Hemadeh said.
“However, I came here because I love the sport and to soak in the atmosphere.”
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The low down
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
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Honeymoonish
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
Key features of new policy
Pupils to learn coding and other vocational skills from Grade 6
Exams to test critical thinking and application of knowledge
A new National Assessment Centre, PARAKH (Performance, Assessment, Review and Analysis for Holistic Development) will form the standard for schools
Schools to implement online system to encouraging transparency and accountability
RESULTS
Welterweight
Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) beat Mostafa Radi (PAL)
(Unanimous points decision)
Catchweight 75kg
Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR) beat Leandro Martins (BRA)
(Second round knockout)
Flyweight (female)
Manon Fiorot (FRA) beat Corinne Laframboise (CAN)
(RSC in third round)
Featherweight
Bogdan Kirilenko (UZB) beat Ahmed Al Darmaki
(Disqualification)
Lightweight
Izzedine Al Derabani (JOR) beat Rey Nacionales (PHI)
(Unanimous points)
Featherweight
Yousef Al Housani (UAE) beat Mohamed Fargan (IND)
(TKO first round)
Catchweight 69kg
Jung Han-gook (KOR) beat Max Lima (BRA)
(First round submission by foot-lock)
Catchweight 71kg
Usman Nurmogamedov (RUS) beat Jerry Kvarnstrom (FIN)
(TKO round 1).
Featherweight title (5 rounds)
Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) v Alexandru Chitoran (ROU)
(TKO round 1).
Lightweight title (5 rounds)
Bruno Machado (BRA) beat Mike Santiago (USA)
(RSC round 2).
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
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