ABU DHABI // Ahmed Al Rejaibi has set two career goals: to become a nuclear engineer and a world champion in jiu-jitsu.
At 16, the grade 10 pupil at Al Ruwad School in Abu Dhabi has a good chance of achieving both his objectives.
In the sport, he has already been scouted as a potential champion.
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Al Rejaibi was selected for the first UAE youth squad, which competed at the American Kids National Championship last October where he won a bronze medal.
He followed that up with gold at the European Junior Championship in Portugal in January and again at the Jiu-Jitsu International Federation’s Junior World Championships in Greece last month.
A gold medal has eluded him at the Abu Dhabi World Children’s Cup in three attempts. He made a first-round exit in the competition’s inaugural event in 2012 and won bronze in 2013 and 2014.
“I want to take the momentum forward and win the gold this time,” he said ahead of the tournament that begins on Monday with the competitions for girls followed by the events for the junior boys and youth at the IPIC Arena at Zayed Sports City.
“The first time I travelled abroad for the American Kids National Championship I didn’t have the confidence, but I learnt from that experience what it takes to win when you compete outside the country.”
Al Rejaibi was introduced to jiu-jitsu by his cousin Sulaiman Ahmed more than five years ago and his success at the local competitions encouraged him to pursue the sport full time.
“I started to win medals in every local competition and I thought this is the sport that I can achieve my sporting objectives,” he said.
“I loved sport and had a passion to play football. All that has changed and I am now full time into jiu-jitsu. I will not stop until I become a world champion in black belt.”
Al Rejaibi is the eldest of six boys in his family and said his parents have been his biggest supporters.
“My younger brothers are not into jiu-jitsu but my parents have been behind me ever since I started to practise the sport. They have provided me all the encouragement and moral support,” he said.
Al Rejaibi trains seven days a week but knows how to divide his time between jiu-jitsu and his studies.
“I want to excel in both my studies and the sport I love,” he said. “Academics are important as half the battle is won on the home front when you achieve good results at school.
“Chemistry is my favourite subject and I have managed to balance my studies with my sport. I wish I can fulfil both my ambitions of becoming a nuclear engineer and a world champion in jiu-jitsu.
“Jiu-jitsu has done a world of good to me. It has given me the confidence and belief that I can achieve my goals with hard work. It has improved my fitness levels and made me stronger physically. Above all it taught me discipline and self-control.”
Al Rejaibi’s role model is his coach Helder Medeiros. The Brazilian is also the UAE national youth team coach and Al Rejaibi has been trained by him for more than a year since he was selected to the UAE youth squad.
“I didn’t have a role model until I came under his tutelage,” he said. “He has a strict code of work ethics both on and off the mat. He demonstrates good and strong character and conducts himself in a good way. For me, I would like to know the character of the person you want to respect and I find my coach has all that. I know him for over a year and it was the first time someone asked me of a role model.”
Al Rejaibi has gone from strength to strength since being included in the national youth team and will be one of the leading players for a gold medal in the blue belt 61.5-kilogram at the Abu Dhabi World Children’s Cup.
“It has been a wonderful year for me to be selected for the UAE youth national team and winning two gold medals and a bronze abroad for my country,” Al Rejaibi said.
“If I can win gold in Abu Dhabi this week it will be the icing on the cake. The funny part, however, is a win is not guaranteed until it’s achieved and same goes for everyone in the competition.
“I feel confident yet I need to go out there and accomplish my task. My mind and heart says I can do it.
“Insha Allah.”
apassela@thenational.ae
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