Winners of U-14 and Adult category of Jiu-Jitsu President’s Cup felicitated

Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikh Zayed Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan have presented trophies to the winners of the Jiu-Jitsu President’s Cup 2023 in the Under 14 and Adults divisions at Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City.

During the visit, they congratulated the players on their victories and praised the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation for its efforts in nurturing young talent and advancing the development of the sport in the UAE.

They were accompanied by Abdel Moneim Al Hashemi, Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, President of the Asian Jiu-Jitsu Union, and Senior Vice President of the Jiu-Jitsu International Federation, as well as a number of the UAEJJF’s Board members and club officials.

Saturday’s competitions saw Baniyas Club dominating the adults division finals. In the adults’ men’s competition, Baniyas secured the top spot, with Al Ain and Al Jazira coming in second and third places, respectively. Meanwhile, in the adults’ women’s competition, Baniyas also claimed the first-place title, with Al Wahda in second and Al Ain in third.

In the girls’ under-14 category, Sharjah Self-Defense Sports Club won first place, with Baniyas coming in second. The girls’ matches were closely contested, with both teams displaying outstanding skills and sportsmanship. In the boys’ under-14 category, Al Ain emerged victorious, with Sharjah Self-Defense taking the second spot.

Al Hashemi also congratulated the winners and praised the performance of all players for their technical abilities and level of competence. He also thanked the clubs for their commitment to preparing a future generation of exceptional athletes in a competitive yet supportive environment to nurture national talent for both regional and global championships.

“We were delighted to have the presence of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikh Zayed Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to honor the champions, which was a huge morale boost for them. We congratulate the winning clubs and players on their remarkable achievements,” Al Hashemi added.

Dr Ahmed Nasser Al Raisi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Baniyas Club, expressed his happiness with Baniyas Club’s achievements, which he said were made possible with the wise leadership’s support. “Our club’s president and board of directors’ support is evident in the wonderful results we achieved this season, including winning the UAE Volleyball League, Super Cup, and three divisions of the Jiu-Jitsu President’s Cup today. These achievements strengthen our motivation to work harder and develop our tools, with the ultimate goal of representing UAE sports and raising our beloved country’s flag on the podiums,” he added.

Coach Ibrahim Al Hosani from Sharjah Club for Self-Defense expressed his excitement at winning the title in the girls’ under 14 division. “We trained for a long time in preparation for this precious moment. We will continue to work to achieve more successes because today’s achievement strengthened our motivation and confidence that we are able to achieve titles with the support of our wise leadership and their great interest.”

Faisal Al Ketbi, a player of the national team and Baniyas Club, said, “I want to appreciate the efforts of the Baniyas Club management and its tireless work in translating the vision of the wise leadership by focusing on all games and jiu-jitsu in particular, which doubled the number of players joining the club and contributed greatly to the development of their technical and professional levels. This made jiu-jitsu a way of life for them and attracted many young players and fans.”

Earlier, Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City was buzzing with excitement as the Jiu-Jitsu President’s Cup finals for Under-16 and Under-18 categories came to a close with a thrilling showdown of top-class talent.

Fans from all over the country flocked to witness the action on the Ramadan evening, and they were not disappointed.

In the nail-biting finals of the Under-16 men’s category, Al Ain Club emerged victorious, defeating Al Wahda, who finished in the second position, and Al Jazira, who secured the third spot. The competition was intense, but Al Ain stayed focused and composed, ultimately securing their well-deserved victory.

In the Under-16 women’s division, Baniyas Club claimed the title, beating Al-Jazira, who finished as the runner-up, and Al-Ain, who took the third spot. The women’s matches were just as exciting, and Baniyas Club rose to the occasion and clinched the championship title.