Winners pose on the podium during the presentation ceremony.

Emirati athletes excelled on day two of the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Youth Championship, winning five gold medals and raising the UAE’s total medal count to 28. In Tuesday’s under-18 division Jiu-Jitsu competition, the host nation’s athletes stood out on the mats, securing an impressive tally of 5 gold, 2 silver, and 12 bronze medals.

Featuring competitions for athletes under 16, 18, and 21 years old, the ongoing Jiu-Jitsu Asian Youth Championship is part of 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, at Mubadala Arena from May 3-8.

The second day of the youth competitions witnessed emerging talents from across the continent testing their skills in various disciplines including Duo-Classic, Show, Jiu-Jitsu, and Jiu-Jitsu Fighting. The UAE Jiu-Jitsu National Team excelled in the jiu-jitsu discipline, the only category they are participating in.

Salem Alqubaisi (-56 Kg), Alanood Alharbi (-44kg), Abdulla Ahmed Aldarmaki (+85kg), and Zamzam Al-Hammadi (-57 kg) shone with gold medals for the hosts, while Shamsa Alameri (-48kg) and Khuloud Alblooshi (+70kg) bagged silver. Haira Aldaheri (-40kg), Maitha Almezaini (-48kg), Mouza Alrashdi (-52kg), Saif Alblooshi (-44kg), Ebrahim Almansoori (+85kg), Mansoor Alblooshi (-48kg), Theyab Darmaki (-48kg), Obaid Saeed Alketbi (-52kg), Omar Younis Alraeesi (-52kg), Harib Alhammadi (-62kg), Ali Alteneiji (-77kg), and Majed Alshamsi (-85kg) grabbed bronze.

Youssef Al Batran, Board Member of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, commended the outstanding performance of the youth national team on Tuesday. “Despite their young age, our youth athletes demonstrated exceptional technical proficiency. This accomplishment underscores the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation’s dedication to cultivating talent and creating a generation that proudly represents the UAE on the global stage.”

Azizbek Tokhirov, coach of the Uzbek national jiu-jitsu team, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance across both youth and adult competitions: “Our athletes have been performing well. They have secured a total of 25 medals, including 6 gold, 6 silver, and 13 bronze in the youth competitions alone. Considering the tough competition and extensive participation, these achievements mark significant strategic progress for us. With a clear and ambitious vision for the future of jiu-jitsu in Uzbekistan, we aim to establish ourselves among the continent’s best teams within the next five years.”

Khalifa Salem Andeez, the father of the athlete Ahmed Khalifa Andeez, was among the fans cheering for the under-18 athletes who took to the mats on Tuesday. “I am here to encourage my son, who is participating in the 69 kg competition. He performed well and reached the semi-finals. He couldn’t bag a gold medal today, but I am sure he will learn from his experience and perform better and aim for higher achievements,” said Khalifa.

Dana Albraiki, who grabbed gold in the -40 kg division said: “I faced today’s fights with great concentration and patience, diligently following the instructions from my coaches and the technical team. I applied them in the best way possible, especially in the final match. I believe that this victory is a translation of the great work and support we received from the federation, the technical team, and the coaches.”

Salem Alqubaisi, the -56 kg gold winner, added: “There is no doubt that achieving the gold medal in the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship is a historic achievement for me that will keep me motivated to perform even better in the upcoming championships. I am extremely grateful to everyone who supported me in my journey towards the gold medal.”

Pakistani Yaseen Umer, who along with Ali Muhammad Yousaf won the gold medal in the U18 Jiu-Jitsu Duo Men, said: “I am so proud to be able to give Pakistan the first gold medal in the championship. Participating in the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship was a great opportunity, particularly because only a few athletes from our country have participated. Our next goal is to participate in the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship to keep the momentum going.”