Disabled athletes will now have a chance to test themselves at the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship after three new categories were added to this year’s showpiece competition.
For the first time in their nine-year history, the Para-Jiu-Jitsu event will see more than 100 players vie for glory across various divisions during the April 10-23 championship at the IPIC Arena.
Competitions for Armed Forces and Masters 3 and 4, aimed for athletes aged 35 and over, have also been added on the programme.
It’s part of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation’s (UAEJJF) pledge in the UAE’s 2017 ‘Year of Giving’ and their chief executive believes this is another positive step in promoting the sport.
“As this year is the ‘Year of Giving in the UAE’, we are supporting that initiative,” said Fahad Ali Al Shamsi. “The Para-Jiu-Jitsu competition is for differently abled athletes and will see more than 100 players not just from the UAE but other countries like Canada, Brazil and America competing; and this will open a new window for them to win medals.
“Last year we had two Brazilians competing in the championship but this year we have a Open category across various divisions which is only for them. This and the other two events, is a way for more people to participate in our sport.”
They will be among a record 7,500 from more than 100 nations that are expected to travel to the capital for the 13-day competition which will have a total prize fund of Dh3million across the festival, juniors, legends and adults categories.
It will be the biggest turnout since it started in 2009 and Al Shamsi insists that will only enhance the quality of matches on the mat. “Last year we had 6,000 competitors and the level of the competition will be very high this year,” he said.
He added: “Since its inception, the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship has gone from strength to strength and is gaining prestige on the world stage. This year we will see even more participants than ever take to the mats of the IPIC Arena across the two weeks of competition, which is a testament to the competition’s growth.
“For example, since 2013 the number of athlete’s competing in the Championship has grown on average 32 per cent year-on-year with a fantastic overall growth of 596 per cent. Specifically, in the UAE we now have over 250 UAE players competing, which equates to annual growth of 44 per cent.
“We are proud to play a part in motivating aspiring Jiu-Jitsu players at local and international levels and we are committed to developing the sport across the Emirates.”
Meanwhile, UAE’s national coach Rodrigo Lima revealed the team will undergo training camps.
“The team is now more established and more experienced and there are new faces that are coming through,” he said.
