Al Maazmi bags lone gold for UAE in Jiu-Jitsu Masters
VET HEMADEH BRINGS OUT THE ANIMAL INSTINCT TO CLAIM TWO MEDALS
brahim Al Maazmi provided the lone gold for the hosts yesterday in the Abu Dhabi Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship in the Masters-2 White Belt 62kg category, beating Daniyar Jumaniyazov of Kazakhstan at the IPIC Arena.
“It’s my first gold medal in three competitions since I started Jiu-Jitsu one year ago. I won a silver at the Dubai Open and bronze at Sharjah Open. And now to stand on the podium with a gold [medal] in a world championship is like a dream come true,” said the elated 43-year-old, who was an athlete before taking up Jiu-Jitsu.
“I did athletics from 1989 at Al Shaab Club and held the national record for 1,000 metres. I gave up athletics after around 10 years, but never gave up on my fitness,” revealed Al Maazmi, adding that it was Ebrahim Al Hosani, a member of the UAE national team, who urged him to take up Jiu-Jitsu straightaway.
“I told him I don’t have a kimono and then he told me to buy one immediately and join them in training, which I did. Today, all my efforts have paid off,” said a jubilant Al Maazmi.
Battling all odds, Lebanese vet Ali Hemadeh, who travelled to the UAE capital to follow his passion of Jiu-Jitsu, was rewarded for his hard work with gold and bronze medals in the 75kg Masters 2 Blue Weight and Open categories, respectively.
“I’m a doctor during the day and fighter during the night and this is a reward for all the time I put in after my working hours,” said Hemadeh proudly displaying his two medals. Hemadeh says the sport is still in its infancy in his country and it is restricted to a few clubs.
“The Lebanese Jiu-Jitsu Federation has helped us, but very little financially. They have given us half the amount for the flight tickets. But then you still have registration and accommodation to take care of. So it becomes heavy on the pockets, but it is the passion that has brought me here,” said Hemadeh, who also won silver in the 85kg category here last year.
Grassroots programme
Hemadeh, who trains at club ATOS in Lebanon, was of the view that a proper grassroots programme, like the one in the UAE, is the only way the sport can develop in his country. “There is a lot of interest for MMA and we do have good MMA fighters, but the sport of Jiu-Jitsu definitely needs a boost. It can only happen if we target youth like they do it here,” stated Hemadeh, who is keen to come back again next year to defend his title
Like, Hemadeh, Andrey Pilipets of Russia had travelled all the way from Singapore and his reward was a silver in the Open and bronze in the minus 95kg Masters Blue category.
“Last year, I was here but didn’t win any medal, but this year I have done well with silver and bronze. I had to work a lot on my conditioning and it helped this time round,” said Pilipets, adding that the sport is very competitive in Singapore.
“We have over 20 schools there and the level is very good. I have been travelling all around Asia taking part in tournaments. I would say we have 500 to 600 good Jiu-Jitsu fighters in Singapore and the sport is growing,” added Pilipets.
Jiu-Jitsu practitioner