Emirati athletes dominate youth category on day one as Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Finale gets off to a ‘beautiful’ start
ABU DHABI, 6th May, 2022 – Emirati athletes dominated the competition on the opening day of the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Slam World Tour finale at Zayed Sports City’s Jiu-Jitsu Arena, featuring more than 1,000 male and female participants from 42 countries.
The UAE Youth players showed excellent technical skills to secure 35 gold medals.
The three-day jiu-jitsu event got underway for participants aged under-18 and gave an early indicator of the country’s future on the international stage. The UAE surpassed Brazil and Russia, which finished second and third, respectively.
Following a great show on the opening day, Palms Sports Academy secured first place in the clubs’ division, while Al Ain and Sharjah Self-Defence Sports Club took second and third place, respectively.
“Today’s competitions saw amazing technical levels and brilliant performances by young men and women who have demonstrated that they are on the right track to achieve an outstanding professional career in the coming years,” said Mohamed Salem Al Dhaheri, Vice President of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation.
“One of the most important aspects of this tournament is the opportunity for the UAE athletes to meet with their colleagues from other jiu-jitsu schools worldwide. This has a positive impact on refining their talent, developing their experience, and preparing them in the best possible way to compete in upcoming competitions.”
Tariq Al Bahri, General Manager of Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro, added, “Today’s results demonstrate that Abu Dhabi Grand Slam tournaments are gaining enormous popularity. We enjoyed large crowds of people cheering on the competitors, but more importantly, all the participants put on fantastic performances, motivating them to continue improving and striving for even better results in the future.”
The tournament’s first day was attended by a multinational crowd, creating a memorable environment of enthusiasm and excitement.
“My family and I travelled from Saudi Arabia to support my son Abdul Rahman, who won the gold medal,” said Abdullah Fakih. “I am proud of him and his accomplishment. I am here in the stands for the fourth time since my son began his international participation. Words cannot express the beautiful atmosphere and the immersive experiences Abu Dhabi and its championships give to visitors and participants.”
Twelve-year-old Abdul Rahman, a grey belt from Saudi’s BPG Arena Academy, added, “The encouragement of friends and family pushes us always to do our best. I dedicate this victory to them and promise them more. I am always excited to compete in the Abu Dhabi competitions since they provide a terrific opportunity to compete against top players from across the world.”
Abdel Moneim Al Hashemi, Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, President of the Ju-Jitsu Asian Union, and Senior Vice President of the International Jiu-Jitsu Federation; Mohamed Salem Al Dhaheri, Vice Chairman, UAEJJF; Tareq Al Bahri, General Manager, AJP, several officials, guests and representatives of academies were present during the event.