KUUMAR SHYAM (ABU DHABI)
The battle for the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship title reaches a pivotal stage this weekend as Round 7 gets underway at Mubadala Arena from September 18 to 20.
With the Gi standings tightly contested, every match carries added weight as clubs fight to strengthen their positions ahead of the final round.
Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club leads the Gi standings, followed closely by Palms Sports – Team 777 and Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club. All three remain firmly in contention and will be aiming to maximise points across the various categories and weight divisions.
Round 7 will feature competition in the Kids categories as well as Under-12, Under-14, Under-16 and Under-18 age groups, alongside the Adults and Masters divisions. Strong performances throughout the squads will be essential, with results in every category capable of influencing the title race.
Among the athletes to watch are Al Ain’s Rashid Mohammed Al Shehhi and Baniyas’ Hazza Farhan in the Adults Black and Brown Belt category. In the women’s competition, Baniyas’ Maryam Al Ali and Palms Sports’ Ghala Al Hammadi are set to compete in the Purple Belt division.
Zayed Al Kaabi, the coach of Al Ain club, said: “The final rounds require good preparation, especially with athletes competing across different weight divisions and categories. We need to stay focused and consistent. We want every athlete to perform at their best and help the club remain competitive until the end of the season.
“The final result depends on the whole team, so we focus on preparing every athlete, while also looking at the overall result of the round. A strong performance in any category can make a difference to our position in the standings.”
Rashid Al Shehhi, also representing Al Ain club, added: “We want to achieve the best possible result, and we know that every athlete’s performance contributes to the club’s overall result. That gives us extra motivation and responsibility when we compete.”
Palms Sports’ Ghala Al Hammadi said: “Our preparation is not only about competition day. It comes from the work we do at the academy throughout the season and the bond between athletes and coaches. I want to perform at my best and help my team in the overall standings.”
Abdullah Salem Al Zaabi, Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications at the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation, stressed the importance of the upcoming round, noting that with fewer opportunities remaining, every result will be critical for clubs seeking to maintain their form, utilise their full squads and stay in contention for the title.
Al Zaabi highlighted the closely fought nature of the championship so far and the potential for individual performances to influence the overall standings.