ABU DHABI: Al-Jazira Jiu-Jitsu Club continued to assert its dominance on the second day of the Abu Dhabi World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championship taking place at the Mubadala Arena.
The competitions on Saturday — a part of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship — saw hundreds of girls aged 10-17 competing across various age, weight, and belt categories.
Al-Jazira Jiu-Jitsu Club emerged victorious, with the Kazakhstan National Team securing second position and Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club finishing third.
Eisa Hilal Al-Hazami, chairman of the Sharjah Sports Council, expressed his delight at being part of the contest, highlighting its world-class organization, the significant number of participating athletes, and international representation.
“What sets this championship apart is the incredible crowd support, particularly from families who come out in force to encourage and motivate their children,” he said. “This interest and encouragement contribute to the development of strong and capable future leaders.”
Mohamed Al-Marzooqi, director of marketing and corporate communications at the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation and director of the championship, said the performance of young women reflects the sport’s growing popularity among girls worldwide as they aspire to pursue professional careers in the sport.
“Jiu-jitsu is for everyone. It’s a way of life for young athletes,” he said. “We can see this when young girls eagerly join events like the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, where they get to showcase their skills to the world.”
Ayub Magomadov, head coach of the Russian Gymnasium Team, said: “We took third place in the festival competitions. It’s a significant result for us, and I couldn’t be happier. This is the fifth straight year we’ve been coming here, and the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship keeps getting better year after year, getting bigger. I think this event is like the Olympics of jiu-jitsu.
“Jiu-jitsu is an international sport. We come to the championship as one big jiu-jitsu community. What unites us as a community is the spirit of sports. I really want to give it up to Abu Dhabi for making all of this happen,” he added.
Emirati Fatima Alktheeri from Al-Wahda Club, who secured gold in the Girls Gi/Teen/Yellow/44 kg division, expressed her heartfelt appreciation for the UAEJJF. She said, “The federation spares no effort in providing all the necessary elements for our success, enabling us to shine and achieve victories on both local and international stages. I dedicate this medal to the UAEJJF.”
