There was no shortage of numbers at the Al Shaheed Jiu-Jitsu Championship as the stars of tomorrow proved yet again that the UAE has a bright future in the sport.
More than 1,500 Emiratis flocked to the IPIC Arena in Abu Dhabi over the weekend for the annual tournament hosted in honour of those who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty while defending the security and stability of the UAE.
In what was an emotional occasion, the youngsters, aged 10 to 17, did not disappoint with the fans treated to some thrilling encounters on the mat.
Among the winners were Saif Sulaiman Aleissaee and Hamed Suhail, who triumphed in the grey 78kg and white 50kg divisions respectively. For Aleissaee, it was a 12th medal in his trophy cabinet and one he looks back with great pride.
“I have been competing in jiujitsu for two years, having seen my brothers take up the sport at school,” said the 14-year-old. “The UAE has a lot of very good people who do jiu-jitsu and having seen Faisal Al Ketbi compete in the tournaments, those performances have really inspired me. I enjoy doing jiu-jitsu because I love sport. The sport is very big in the UAE and for me to win a gold medal is a big honour.”
We're pleased to host International professional boxer @amirkingkhan our guest of honor at Al Shaheed Championship! #uae_remembers #uaejjf pic.twitter.com/vdjLxDLZOU
— UAEJJF (@uaejjf) November 26, 2016
Suhail was left exhausted after getting the better of Ahmed Al Shamsi in the final but was thrilled to be on the top step of the podium “There wasn’t any hesitation from me to taking part in this competition,” said the 11-year-old. “I love jiu-jitsu and to be part of a memorable tournament is great. No match is easy as all the boys and girls in the UAE are strong and talented. To win a medal is fantastic and I am happy to have made the country proud.”
Abdulrahman Yousef had to settle for bronze in the grey junior 60kg category, with Sultan Wahedi triumphing. But that didn’t dampen his spirits. “A medal is a medal and it feels good to win bronze,” said the 13-year-old Yousef. “This wouldn’t have been possible without my coaching team and family who have supported me every step of the way.”
For Mohammed Salem Al Dhaheri, vice chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation and executive director of school operations at the Abu Dhabi Education Council, the weekend tournament is proof the sport is on the right track.
“The turn-out has been outstanding, in line with the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation’s vision of promoting the sport for the younger generation,” he said. “Championships are organised on the weekends so that they can compete, and allows parents to support them. It’s great a lot of kids are embracing this sport and I hope more can take up jiu-jitsu.”
