Amin Abbas

ABU DHABI: The AJP Tour Abu Dhabi International Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship came to a conclusion at Mubadala Arena on March 19 capping an excellent weekend of top-class performances across various weight and belt divisions.

A strong Sharjah Self-Defense Sports Club emerged the big winners, forcing Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club to settle for second and Al-Ain to take third.

The event, organized by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF) in association with Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro (AJP), saw heated contests among athletes in amateur and professional categories on the final day with plenty of fervor and superb skills on display.

The competition was attended by Abdel Moneim Al Hashemi, Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, President of the Asian Ju-Jitsu Union, and Senior Vice President of the International Jiu-Jitsu Federation. Following the competition, an awards ceremony for the winners was held in the presence of Mohammed Salem Al-Dhaheri, Deputy Chairman of UAEJJF, Mansour Mohammed Al Dhaheri, UAEJJF Board Member and Mubarak Al Menhali, Director of the UAEJJF’s Technical Department.

Albino Malungo, Ambassador of the Republic of Angola to the UAE, Youssef Al Batran, UAEJJF Board Member and a number of officials from the UAEJJF and participating clubs and academies were also present Mubadala Arena.

Mansour Al Dhaheri, member of the Board of Directors of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, stressed the AJP championships are on par with the highest international standards at the organizational and technical levels.

“As anticipated, the AJP Tour Abu Dhabi International Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship was a great success, especially in terms of attendance since it was able to attract a good number of seasoned stars. The event was also successful in giving hundreds of male and female players from about 50 nations a highly competitive environment, demonstrating that the UAE is the home of champions and their first choice of destination for achieving glory.”

Al Dhaheri emphasized that the competition offers UAE athletes and their competitors a favorable environment to prepare for international and continental contests.

Japanese player Takuma Kambayashi from Atrixion MMA participated in the championship and competed in the Men’s / Blue / Amateur / 85kg division and lost to Hugo Da Silva by submission.

Mohammed Alswaidi of the Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club who scooped gold in the Men’s Brown / Professional / 69kg division, said: “Winning a medal means the excellent training I have done has paid off. We are eager to make the most of all the resources the UAEJJF Jiu-Jitsu Federation and the clubs to which we belong have made available to us. We also believe that every competition presents an opportunity for us to repay them and make the nation proud.”

Nabiev from Russia’s EaglesBjj, who grabbed gold in the Men’s Blue / Amateur / 85kg division, said: “I came all the way from Dagestan to participate in the AJP Tour Abu Dhabi International Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship and it was worth it as I could capture a medal. I was aware that the competitions would not be easy at all since the greatest players in the world travel to the Abu Dhabi Championships. Yet, success depends on preparation, which I did; as a result, I am standing on the podium today.”

Lilit Danielyan from Legacy Jiu-Jitsu Armenia grabbed bronze in the Women’s Purple / Professional / 55kg, division. She said, “I have heard a lot of good things about the Abu Dhabi championships, but today I actually got to experience them. It is the perfect destination for those hoping to fulfill their aspirations in this sport. This championship is an example of superb planning and hosting that meets the highest international standards.”