UAE jiu jitsu team target rich haul at Ashgabat

The UAE jiu jitsu team, comprising 21 players, has reached Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, to prepare in earnest ahead of the Asian Indoor Games.

The delegation, headed by Yousuf Al Beloushi, Technical Director of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, includes Shaikha Al Suwaidi as supervisor for the girls’ team, and coaches Roberto Lima, Enrique Zizendi, and Jesseca Vitoria besides 14 male players and seven women.

The men’s team consists of Obaid Al Nuaimi and Omar Al Fadhli in the 56kg division, Zayed Al Mansouri and Saeed Al Mazroui in 62kg, Taleb Al Karbi and Ebrahim Al Hosani in 69kg, Mohammad Al Qubaisi and Saoud Al Hamadi in 77kg, Saeed Al Suwaidi and Khalfan Balhool in 85kg, Faisal Al Ketbi and Mubarak Amro in 94kg, and Zayed Al Kaabi and Yahya Al Hamadi in 110kg. In the open weight category, the UAE’s hopes will be carried forward by Faisal Al Ketbi and Yahya Al Hamadi.

The girls team is represented by Mouza Al Shamsi and Dima Al Yafei in 49kg, Reem Al Hashemi and Mahra Al Hanaei in 55kg, Bashayer Al Matroushi and Hessa Thani in 62kg, and Salwa Al Ali in above 70kg.

UAE ace Al Ketbi reaffirmed the readiness of all players in the national team and their strong determination to come back with trophies. “The high expectations expressed by the officials at the Olympic Committee motivate us to work hard and reach the coronation day with our national anthem playing loudly in Ashgabat,” he said.

“From the start of this season, we have been performing well, be it in the International Championship in Poland, the Asian Games in Vietnam, or the 20-day training camp in Rio de Janeiro. We have been preparing hard and we are ready to represent our country in this continental event.”