The President of the UAE and Asian Federations, and First Vice President of the International Jiu-Jitsu Federation, Abdel Moneim Al Hashemi, was “honoured” to welcome Brazil president Jair Bolsonaro to the Jiu-Jitsu Arena on day two of the 13th Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship (ADWPJJC), the largest and most prestigious jiu-jitsu event on the global calendar.
The head of state toured the arena with world-famous Jiu-Jitsu coach and compatriot Renzo Gracie, pausing for photographs with Jiu-Jitsu fans and watching the action from the Masters competitions featuring athletes in the over 30 category, in the six-day event held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
Al Hashemi said: “We take this occasion to thank His Excellency the Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and congratulate the people of Brazil and all the Brazilian coaches and citizens residing in the UAE for their Republic Day celebrations.
“Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro is gradually expanding by holding tournaments in various states of Brazil, out of our enthusiasm to provide the best competitive environment and next level of professionalism to discover and refine talents in Brazil, given that there are nearly 2.5 million registered players in Brazil who practice this sport, and more than 20,000 special academies for Jiu-Jitsu training. We are eager to receive large numbers of Brazilian champions in the most important tournaments organized and hosted by the UAEJJF in Abu Dhabi annually.”
Gracie, one of the biggest names in the history of Jiu-Jitsu, praised the tournament organisers for this year’s event. He said: “Here, Jiu-Jitsu is everything, and to be here is a real honour. This is the best competition I have seen in my life, and the event gets better every year.”
President Bolsonaro expressed his happiness with the development of jiu-jitsu in the UAE, as well as the role of the UAE in promoting the sport in all countries of the world.
Following on from the junior action on opening day, it was the turn of the Masters – contestants over 30 – to take to the mat in the blue and purple belt categories on day two of the event which brings 4,000 contestants together for six days of high-quality competition.
UAE-based academy the Commando Group claimed the lead in the first day of the Masters category with 123,920 points, ahead of Sharjah Self-Defence Sports Club with 52,800 points, and the Checkmat International from the US in third with 44,000 points.
Mathias Engstrom was thrilled to claim gold in the Masters 2, 77kg category for purple belts, after travelling from Sweden with the Stark Jiu-Jitsu club. The 37-year-old said: “I love competing and it’s always such an energy boost coming to Abu Dhabi and competing against all these excellent competitors. I’ve been competing for about four and a half years, and I love it. It is such a professional event; the venue is fantastic and the competition is very fierce.”
Daniel Fernandez Paz, a 36-year-old purple belt from Belgium, was delighted to take gold in the Masters 1 85kg category. He said: “The last few months were very difficult for me as I have been working very hard but winning a gold medal today makes everything worth it.”
Abdulkhamid Magomedov claimed gold in the Masters 3, 85kg category at purple belt after travelling with the Abubakarova Club from the Republic of Dagestan for his second competitive contest in the UAE. The 41-year-old said: “I am proud and happy to win first place, I hope to keep competing and practicing until I reach the top and compete on an international level at black belt. Out of all the international competitions I have competed in over the years, I feel that this is the best organised, I am very impressed with this event.”
The female athletes were also battling it out on the mat at Masters level, and Bianca Antman from the All Stars Training Centre in Sweden was thrilled with gold at Blue belt in the 55kg category, in her first visit to Abu Dhabi. She said: “It feels amazing to win at such an incredible event, it was so well organised and professionally run. My future plans are to win first place in all belts; I have won in white, and now in blue, so I plan on proceeding with all the belts and hopefully winning first place with every colour.”
ADWPJJC action continues Tuesday, November 16 when the Masters (Over-30s) take to the mats in the brown – black belt categories at the Jiu-Jitsu Arena. For more information visit www.uaejjf.com
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