UAE champions confirm places at Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Championship

Sport360 staff 18:06 27/03/2014
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  • As the countdown begins for The Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2014 & World Jiu-Jitsu Children’s Cup, local UAE fighters have already confirmed that they will represent their country in the Men’s and Women’s Division during this year’s Championship.

    Held under the Patronage of H.H. General Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of UAE Armed Forces, the competition will feature the greatest fighters from across the world taking to the mat to fight for the title of “World Champion”.

    The UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation in partnership with the International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC), will host the event at the First Gulf Bank Arena (FGB Arena), a ‘first of its kind’ facility located in Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi, with over fifty different countries represented.

    The theme ‘One World One Fight’, highlights the international status of the Championship which has an increased cash prize of more than AED 1.61 million and sees Marcus Almeida, the reigning Black Belt Open heavyweight World Champion defend his title amongst the star-studded line-up.

    The female division will also have no shortage of competition with Gabrielle Garcia, open weight black belt champion also returning to the UAE to fight.

    Speaking ahead of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2014 & World Jiu-Jitsu Children’s Cup, H.E. Abdulmunam Al Hashemi, President of the Asian Jiu-Jitsu Union and Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation said: “We are thrilled to have so many talented UAE fighters qualify for this year’s tournament.

    " We know that they have been training hard and traveling around the world in order to compete and qualify for this year’s event in Abu Dhabi. Their determination highlights the Federation’s commitment to developing and training local talent here in the UAE ensuring our ability to compete against the best in the world.”

    His Excellency added, “We encourage sports fans across the UAE to show their passion and support our local Jiu-Jitsu heroes as they fight for the pride of the nation at this year’s Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship.”

    His Excellency, Khadem Abdulla Al Qubaisi, Managing Director of IPIC, said, “IPIC is proud to be the Official Partner of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation and Sponsor of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship.

    ' Our objective is to support domestic and international sporting initiatives that have strong roots in the UAE’s culture and bring benefit to our society.”

    Even with the added international fighters, the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation is determined and confident in their homegrown talent and how they will stand out from the rest. Local UAE Jiu-Jitsu champions Faisal Fahad Al Ketbi (Brown belt) and Shamsa Hassan (Female Blue belt), will be competing along with Yahya Al Hammadi (Purple belt), Hasan Al Rumaithi (Purple belt) Ali Salem Al Darai (Purple belt) and Emaan Mohammed (Female Blue belt) from the UAE.

    Expressing their excitement for the upcoming championship the fighters remarked, “We are thrilled to be representing our country during the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, especially as it is being held where we live and train on a daily basis.

    It’s important for us as athletes to give our best in any competition and especially at home where we want to perform well in front of our family, friends and the local community.”

    “It’s been amazing to see the growth of Jiu-Jitsu here in the UAE and events such as this one help strengthen the growth, encouraging young locals to get active and more involved. Our participation with UAE Jiu-Jitsu has been a great experience and motivator in life and we can’t wait to share it with the UAE this coming April.”

    The new five-day championship, held in a purpose built arena in the heart of the capital, promises to be a bigger and better family event than ever before, all completely free to attend.

    The event will feature a host of incredible contests and a range of new activities to entertain all, whether attendees are dedicated fans or are completely new to the sport.

    The first two days, April 15th and 16th will focus on the children’s cup and the remaining days will be for the adult’s championship with entertainment for every age taking place throughout the five-day event at the IPIC Fan Zone located at the FGB Arena.

    One of the UAE’s greatest week of live sport and free fun will include: an expanded fan experience, an enhanced spectator programme that includes an opening ceremony, sponsor activities, family events, interactive stands, and a raffle draw where all visitors will have the chance to win two cars and Etihad Airways is providing two return economy class tickets from Abu Dhabi to The Maldives and three nights’ accommodation at the Holiday Island Resort Maldives.

    Once again, the organizers expect more than 800 international entries across multiple divisions as several international trial tournaments have taken place across the globe for fighters to qualify for the championship.

    The championship schedule sees the World Jiu-Jitsu Children’s Cup 2014 take place across two days on Tuesday 15th and Wednesday 16th April and the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2014 from the 17th – 19th April.

    Both events will take place at the FGB Arena, Zayed Sports City and are completely free to attend for all fans throughout the championship.

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