Al Ketbi aims to make his fans proud UAE’S FIRST JIU- JITSU BLACK BELT HOLDER WANTS TO ‘ PUSH HIS LUCK’
AE’s first jiu- jitsu black belt holder and inspiration for many, Faisal Al Ketbi, will start his campaign in the Abu Dhabi World Pro Championships today at the Ipic Arena.
Al Ketbi has been maintaining a low profile ever since he was elevated to black belt in 2014 but all that, he insists, had been to ‘ build himself’ to the level of some of the top jiu- jitsu fighters of the World.
In the last World Pro, he was a new entrant into the big league trying to gain as much experience as possible. However, this time round he is ‘ ready’, asserts Al Ketbi as he comes into the tournament on the back of an intense training programme.
He also has registered some noteworthy performances and is looking to draw inspiration from them when he steps on to the mat for one of the biggest challenges of his career at home.
“I have a chance to win and a chance to fight good. So I will push my luck till the end,” said the 29- year- old, whose major success this season came when he won silver at the Grand Slam London to go with a double gold at the West Asian Championship.
Team man
“I have added a few new techniques that I will try to bring to my game. Hopefully, it works in the competition,” added Al Ketbi, who went on to add that he was in the best of form and the recent success was a huge shot in his arm ahead of the showpiece event.
“There is no doubt the contest will be tough but in jiujitsu anything can happen. My aim is to give my best and I’m upbeat about doing well in my under- 94kg weight category. I would also like to believe that I can match the best at the Open category as well,” revealed Al Ketbi, who also expects his teammates to do well.
“Most of the national team fighters are in good shape. They have impressed with gold, silver and bronze medals in the Grand Slams and it is about replicating those performances here. We will end up stunning some of the top fighters,” he added.
UAE star