FUJAIRAH (WAM)

The opening day of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship – Round 4 (Gi) concluded with M.O.D UAE taking first place after an impressive showing. Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club secured second place, while Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club finished third.

Friday saw intense competition across the Men’s and Women’s U18, Adults, and Masters divisions. Athletes showcased their abilities in a series of challenging matches, with numerous submissions and high-level grappling, setting an exciting tone for the weekend.

Tomorrow, the spotlight turns to the sport’s up-and-coming talents. Boys and girls in the Kids categories, along with Girls U12, U14, U16, and Boys U12, will step onto the mat. The championship wraps up on Sunday, 13th October, ahead of the final round in Abu Dhabi this December.

The first day drew a host of high-profile individuals, including Dr. Ahmed Hamdan Al Zeyoudi, Director of the Fujairah Crown Prince’s Office; Major General Mohammed bin Ghanem Al Kaabi, Commander-in-Chief of Fujairah Police; Mohammed Ahmed Al Yamahi, Member of the Federal National Council; Mohamed Salem Al Dhaheri, Vice Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation; Yousef Abdullah Al Batran, Board Member of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation; Nasser Muhammed Al Yamahi, Director General of Fujairah Culture and Media Authority; and Abdullah Ali Al Dhanhani, Director of Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank - Fujairah Branch.

Dr. Ahmed Hamdan Al Zeyoudi praised the tournament’s organisation and quality. He said, “The athletes showed impressive technical skill, proving this championship is a key platform for developing athletes and preparing them for high-level competition.”

Mohamed Salem Al Dhaheri said, “The Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship reflects the strong support jiu-jitsu receives from our leadership. It also highlights our commitment to fostering a vibrant sports culture. This championship plays a vital role in developing athletes’ skills and opening doors for them to lead the sport in the future. Today’s outstanding performances prove that the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation’s efforts to promote the sport are on the right track.”

Talisson Suarez, Coach of M.O.D Jiu-Jitsu Academy, commented, “The Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship has set a high bar for competition, bringing together some of the top athletes in the region. Our athletes performed strongly in the first three rounds, and we have a great chance to compete for the title.”

Andre Luiz de Almeida of Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club won gold in the Men’s Adults/Master -85kg division, while Ghalya Kamis Mohamed Bakhet Almatrooshi of FMAC won gold in the Youth Women’s Gi / White / 82kg division.