Suwaidi, Da Silva win golds as global elite take centre stage at World Pro

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter
 
The stars of global jiu-jitsu shone bright on day four of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship (ADWPJJC), as Sheikh Nahyan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, and UAE astronaut Hazza Al Mansouri, the first Emirati to go to space, enjoyed a watching brief at a packed Jiu Jitsu Arena, at Zayed Sport City.

Mansouri presented Sheikh Nahyan with a UAE Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF) badge he took with him on his historic mission in July 2020, during the official opening of the 13th ADWPJJC, the largest and most prestigious event on the global jiu-jitsu calendar.

Day four of the championship, which runs under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, until Nov.19, saw leading professionals from all corners of the globe, in blue, purple, brown and black belt, take to the mats.

“It is a great honour to stand here in front of you and welcome you to Abu Dhabi, the capital of tolerance and co-existence, the capital of jiu-jitsu. On behalf of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation and jiu-jitsu community, I would like to express our gratitude to Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

“His unwavering support for jiu-jitsu, has enabled our beloved sport to flourish and we see that this week with 4,000 athletes competing on these mats over six days,” Mohamed Salem Al Dhaheri, Vice Chairman, UAEJJF as he gave the opening speech.

“This year’s Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship is themed ‘The Capital of Heroes’ and Abu Dhabi has proven to be a true capital of heroes this week with some exceptional performances on the mats here at the home of jiu-jitsu.”

On the mats, the UAE’s jiu-jitsu heroes took inspiration from the presence of Sheikh Nahyan, Astronaut Mansouri and Hollywood actor Steven Seagal, with medal winning performances.

Omar Ali Al Suwaidi, 18, claimed gold in the 56kg purple belt final cheered on by an expectant crowd. After his victory, the Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club athlete said: “I’ve worked really hard and it’s so rewarding to be first in the world. It was great being able to compete in front of Hazza and I felt really inspired. He brought so much pride to the nation, and I am glad I was able to do the same in my own way.”

Meanwhile, US athlete Mary Jones admitted she “feels like a superstar” after her victory in the women’s 62kg blue belt final: “I live in Jordan and started training there. I played soccer my whole life and thought it was time for a new sport, so I picked up jiu-jitsu four years ago and haven’t looked back since. I fell in love with the sport. This is my third time in Abu Dhabi competing at the World Pro and it just gets better every time. I feel like a superstar.”

Kaune Ramos Da Silva took gold in the women’s 70kg purple belt final.

The 13th ADWPJJC continues on Thursday with the qualifiers in the men and women’s brown and black belt divisions for a place in the finals on Friday.