Amin Abbas

DUBAI: Emirati athletes continued their impressive showing at the eighth jiu-jitsu Asian championship, adding four more medals on the second day of the event on Saturday. 

The hosts’ total medal tally now stands at 11 medals, including three gold, four silver, and six bronze. The championship will run until May 8 at Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi.

In the competitions for various disciplines, Thailand was positioned on top of the overall medal tally with 22 medals, including 11 gold, five silver, and six bronze, followed by Kazakhstan in second place with 26 medals comprised of eight gold, eight silver, and 10 bronze.

The UAE national team, which is participating only in the Newaza discipline, sits in third overall and holds the number one spot in Newaza.

Shining for the hosts on Saturday were Muhrah Mahfoudh and Khaled Al Shehhi, who secured silver, while Shamsa Al Ameri and Mohammed Al Suwaidi won bronze.

The competition on Saturday was attended by Panagiotis Theodoropoulos, President of the Jiu-Jitsu International Federation, and Abdulmunem Alsayedmohamed Alhashmi, Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, as well as heads of national federations and members of delegations from participating countries.

Youssef Al Batran, UAEJJF Board Member, praised the national team for its wonderful performance and their success in moving one step closer to retaining the continental title.

“We’re proud of our national team’s capabilities. Every tournament they enter showcases the genuine talent and winning spirit of our athletes. Today’s achievement speaks volumes about the success of the UAEJJF’s strategy in attracting top coaches to the UAE and organizing dedicated programs to promote and develop the sport, ultimately producing champions.”

Saiful Islam, founder member of the Bangladesh Jiu-Jitsu Association and chief coach, noted that Abu Dhabi is a source of inspiration for countries aspiring to an advanced level of jiu-jitsu in their respective countries.

“We are committed to developing jiu-jitsu in our country, and we have laid out a roadmap that focuses on preparing and qualifying talents based on local training expertise. We are looking forward to taking advantage of partnerships with other national federations and participating in international tournaments.”

Al Shehhi, who scooped silver, said, “It was a tough category I competed in today, and I faced strong opponents. I am glad I won silver. There’s no resting; it’s time to train more, keep the momentum going, and get ready for the next challenge.”

Kazakhstan’s Kanatbek Aslan, who won gold in the adult jiu-jitsu fighting, said, “I’m happy to win a gold medal, especially here in Abu Dhabi, the world capital of jiu-jitsu. It was not an easy win. I want to thank the organizers and hosts for the wonderful event.”