UAE Dominates on the Final Day of the 8th Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship｜Arab News Japan

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The UAE Dominates the Eighth Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship with 59 Medals

After six days of intense competition featuring both youth and adult athletes, the eighth Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship drew to a close with the UAE, the host country, clinching an impressive haul of 59 medals, including 41 medals in youth competition and 18 in adults. The final day witnessed an extraordinary performance by Emirati athletes, extending their medal haul by adding four more gold medals.

Throughout the event, which ran at Mubadala Arena from May 3-8, the hosts had a great showing. The Jiu-Jitsu National Team amassed 41 medals in the youth competitions, including 11 gold, 8 silver, and 22 bronze.

In the adult category, they secured a total of 18 medals, comprising 6 gold, 7 silver, and 5 bronze.

The under-21 competitions, held on Wednesday, saw the team garnering 4 gold, 4 silver, and 5 bronze medals in the Jiu-Jitsu discipline. Aysha Alshamsi (-45 Kg), Faisal Alwahedi (-69 Kg), Faraj Alawlaqi (-85 Kg), and Amaar Alhosani (-94 Kg) clinched gold on Wednesday. Mariam Alali (-45 kg), Shamma Alblooshi (-48 kg), Muhrah Mahfoudh (-63 kg), and Fahad Alhammadi (-77 kg) joined them on the podium with silver, while Sara Alotaiba (+70 kg), Balqees Al Hashemi (48 kg), Alanood Alhosani (-57 kg), Rashid Al Shehhi (-56 kg), and Sultan Hassan (-69 kg) grabbed bronze.

Mohamed Salem Al Dhaheri, Vice Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, extended gratitude to Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, for his patronage of the championship.

Al Dhaheri commended the outstanding performance of the athletes throughout the championship. “The stellar performance by our athletes at the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship reflects the collective efforts of athletes, the technical staff, and coaches. Our national team champions lived up to expectations. We are confident that this young generation will perform well and will continue their journey of achievements.”

He also thanked all participants, including official delegations, administrators, athletes, volunteers, and fans, for their contributions to the success of the championship.

Mahesa Arba, Vice Secretary-General for the Indonesia Jiu-Jitsu Federation, appreciated the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation for organizing the event on par with global standards. “We came here for the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship with just 7 athletes, and our experiences have been really good. We are focused on the youth athletes and hope that in the next few years, we can have more athletes who win medals at major competitions”.

“Jiu-Jitsu is experiencing rapid growth in Indonesia. Since the Jakarta Palembang 2018 Asian Games, there have been multiple local jiu-jitsu championships organized in the country, attracting more and more people to the sport. This is overwhelming. We are also working closely with the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Union to bring a regional event to Bali, which I believe will further promote the sport in the country”.

Emirati Faisal Alwahedi, the -69 Kg gold medalist, said: “It’s tough to win gold in a tournament like this. I’m glad we could watch our teammates in different age groups and learn from them. Their competitions over the last five days really inspired our performance today”.

Aysha Alshamsi, also from the UAE, who grabbed gold in the -45 Kg division, added: “Winning a medal in your own country is an incredible feeling. I dedicate this achievement to the wise leadership, the people of the UAE, and the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, which supported and inspired us to perform well and shine in the tournament”.

Abdullah Ayyash, coach of the Syrian jiu-jitsu team, commended the organizers of the championship for hosting a fantastic event. “Our team is relatively new, but participating in this tournament has been highly beneficial. Our athletes have gained valuable experiences, particularly through their interactions with elite competitors. Being in Abu Dhabi, the world capital of jiu-jitsu, has been a great opportunity for us, and we extend our gratitude to the UAE for its warm hospitality,” he said.

Marwa Alshalabi from Syria, who secured silver in the Adults Jiu-Jitsu Contact Female +70 kg division, also expressed a similar sentiment. “I am overwhelmed by achieving silver for my country in this important tournament. Our experience in Abu Dhabi was very special; just competing in the UAE, which we consider our second homeland, is even more special. I hope to achieve gold in the upcoming tournaments.”

The Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship in Abu Dhabi was a resounding success, showcasing the talent and dedication of athletes from across the region. The UAE’s dominant performance and the positive feedback from participants bode well for the future of the sport in the country and beyond.