Today's Edition
Abu Dhabi (Aletihad)
The Jiu-Jitsu President’s Cup, one of the major local jiu-jitsu events in the UAE, will be held on Friday and Saturday at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAE JJF) has announced. The championship, an annual event held during the holy month of Ramadan, will bring together the top clubs and academies from across the UAE, competing in various weight categories.
Athletes from Baniyas Club will be defending the titles in both men’s and women’s division. Last year, the men’s podium had Baniyas on top perch, followed by Al Ain and Al Jazira in that order. In the women’s division, Al Wahda and Al Ain secured second and third places respectively.
Highlighting the successful history of the President’s Cup, Fahad Al Shamsi, Secretary-General of the Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said that the event serves “as a platform for athletes to test their skills against the best from local clubs.
“This edition, focusing on the adult category, presents an opportunity for participants to enhance their technical skills and elevate their performance levels through intense competition,” he said.
Al Shamsi emphasised the role of the local clubs in the tournament’s success, highlighting their dedication to preparing athletes for the event and keenness to participate with the maximum number of athletes and best-performing competitors.
He noted that preparations for this year’s competition began early, with comprehensive training programmes and camps organised to ensure the readiness of participants. The JJ President’s Cup also boasts attractive prizes totaling more than Dh1 million for top performers.
Mahmoud Al Sayed, Director of the Jiu-Jitsu Academy at Al Wahda Club, noted that the team members have been preparing for the championship since the beginning of the season.
“We’ve been participating in the JJ President’s Cup over the years, and our players have trained vigorously over the past few weeks to win the coveted title. We have full faith in our athletes’ skills to perform well and we are determined to secure first place this time,” Al Sayed said.
Baniyas coach Iuri Alves ranked the President’s Cup as a premier tournament domestic along with the Vice President’s Cup and the Mother of the Nation JJ Cup.
“Local clubs turn out in full force to compete in the Jiu-Jitsu President’s Cup, vying for top spots in the competitions, which are highly intense as all clubs participate with their best athletes. Baniyas Club are the defending champions, and this year, we aim to deliver an outstanding performance and retain the title. Our athletes have been diligently preparing for weeks, and we are confident that they will excel and make us all proud.”
Baniyas women’s squad member Asma Al Hosani, said: “Our preparations for the championship have been anything but ordinary. We’ve witnessed our team’s brilliance over the years and are committed to upholding the club’s successful legacy by fostering a winning mentality. As the defending champions, we are collectively focused and determined to retain the title.”
Abdullah Alkubaisi of Al Wahda Club added: “The Jiu-Jitsu President’s Cup is one of the most challenging championships as we will have the best in the country competing against each other. It also showcases where our country has reached in terms of top-class jiu-jitsu. I can’t wait to be participating in the championship and make my club, Al Wahda, proud.”
The Jiu-Jitsu President’s Cup is a team-based competition in which teams are divided into brackets based on the number of participating teams. Teams, representing their respective clubs, compete against opposing teams. Each team contest comprises multiple individual matches, one in each weight category.
