UAE finish on top at Abu Dhabi World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championship
abu dhabi — Host the UAE finished on top with 170 medals (45 gold, 50 silver, 75 bronze) on the final day of Abu Dhabi World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championship at the IPIC Arena, Zayed Sports City.
Russia finished second with 35 medal (7 gold, 6 silver, 8 bronze) and Kazakhstan finished in third place with 21 medals (7 gold, 6 silver, 8 bronze) at the event, which is part of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and runs till April 22.
Today the Championship saw 400 UAE male players along with 300 international male players from 41 countries battle it out across different weight divisions in the white, grey, yellow, orange, green and blue belts hoping to win glory and the 343 medals available. (103 gold medals, 92 silver and 148 bronze medals).
After the competition, today Jassim Al Mansoure, the father of two competitors Mohammed and Seif, who both won gold on Monday, said: “I am really happy that my children have the chance to participate in the championship and both were able to take home gold in their categories. I help them train two hours every day. I believe that the sport is going from strength to strength not only in the UAE but across the world.”
“I would like to thank the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation for all their hard work abd because of them Abu Dhabi is now known as the capital of Jiu-Jitsu and they have created a new generation of champions. This has really raised the bar for the sport itself.”
It was a very proud moment for Jassim today as both Mohammed and Seif also received their orange belts on the podium today along with their medals.
This part of the two-week world class event, the youth championship, is extremely important to the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation as it sees the stars of the future compete on the world stage which allows them to develop their skills and enhance their techniques. It’s also a stepping stone to the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship where they will have the opportunity to step on the podium and raise the flag for the UAE.
Seventeen-year-old blue belt Abdula Mohammed Shouga from Jordan won a gold medal in the 94kg category. He said: “I have been practicing jiu-jitsu for five years and this is my third year at the championship. Today’s competition was challenging for me but it was also very exciting. Today was a great day for me, I am so happy to have won the gold medal.”