UAE team passes weigh-in stage at Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship

Gulf Today, Sports Reporter

The eighth Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship, held under the patronage of Sheikh Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, commenced at Mubadala Arena.

The Jiu-Jitsu National Team, eyeing the championship title for the fourth consecutive year, has successfully passed the weigh-in stage.

Mubarak Saleh Al Menhali, Director of the Technical Department at the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, highlighted the UAE‘s significant participation, with over 100 athletes competing across weight divisions.

“I appreciate the efforts of the technical staff and athletes, who have dedicated weeks to rigorous training in preparation for this competition. Their hard work during the intensive training camps has elevated the national team's technical and physical skills, preparing them for the competitions,” said Al Menhali.

The 8th Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship features the participation of 30 countries, including Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Chinese Taipe, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Palestine, the Philippines, and South Korea.

Additionally, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen, and the host country, the UAE.

Kazakhstan tops the list with the largest delegation, comprising 300 athletes, followed by the UAE with 129, Uzbekistan with 116, India with 68, Mongolia with 60, and South Korea with 58.

The UAE national team aim to claim the championship title for the fourth consecutive year, following victories in Abu Dhabi (2021), Manama (2022), and Bangkok (2023). In the 5th edition of the championship hosted by Abu Dhabi, the team secured 18 medals, including 4 gold, 4 silver, and 10 bronze.

Marina Ribeiro, Coach of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu National Women’s Team, expressed full confidence in the team's ability to retain the title. “We have finalised our training regimen and strategy for the championship. Our team members are showing great confidence, and we wish them the best,” she said.

Sagiyev Kuat, President of the Kazakhstan Jiu-Jitsu Association, affirmed the team‘s readiness for the championship. “With a strong team of 70 athletes in the adult division, we are well-prepared to improve upon our second-place finish last year. Our preparations have been thorough since the previous edition, and we are determined to claim the top spot,” he added.

“I commend Abu Dhabi for its efforts in promoting the sport globally, organising major events, and fostering collaborations within the jiu-jitsu community,” Kuat added.

Allan Marcus, Coach for the Philippine Team, also expressed optimism for his team. “We‘ve assembled a formidable team of 25 athletes, which includes gold medallists from the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games and 2023 World Combat Games, who have been training rigorously. With everyone clearing the weigh-in stage, we are focusing on fine-tuning our preparations,” he added.