UAE national jiu-jitsu team gear up for Paris Open Grand Prix

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The UAE national jiu-jitsu team, consisting of 12 men and 9 women, is all set to demonstrate their skills at the upcoming Paris Open Grand Prix 2023.

Organised by the Jiu-Jitsu International Federation, the two-day event will feature over 250 male and female players from 22 countries. The event is scheduled to take place on April 22-24 in Paris, and the UAE team will depart on Wednesday.

The team members have been training diligently to showcase their skills and bring glory to the UAE. They recently delivered outstanding performances for their respective clubs during the Jiu-Jitsu President's Cup, which could give them the advantage to perform well in the French capital.

Mubarak Al Menhali, Director of the Technical Department at the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said: “The national jiu-jitsu team is keen to participate in tournaments like Paris Grand Prix as part of its efforts to retain its continental and international achievements, and to intensify its preparations for future championships, especially the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship and the Asian Games in China.”

 “Participating in such tournaments brings many benefits to the national team, including the opportunity to test the players' readiness and compete against some of the strongest international stars. The national team delegation consists of 21 experienced, young, and emerging players, both male and female, most of who have won titles in major tournaments. This enhances our chances of reaching the podium,” Menhali added.

 “We were keen to prepare the team for the tournament in the best possible way, as we focused on areas that need further development,” said Ramon Lemos, coach of the national team.

 “The players have shown exceptional commitment to giving their best, and we are confident that they will spare no effort to provide the performance that befits them and the UAE jiu-jitsu. We look forward with great enthusiasm to the expected championship and are keen to achieve the largest number of colored medals.”

 “The team’s performance in the Asian Championship is optimistic, and this tournament constitutes a strong test for our players who have a good amount of experience and competence, especially as it includes a group of the best and strongest players in the world classified in every weight category. Winning this championship is an important step that contributes to raising the classification of the UAE according to the classification approved by the Ju-Jitsu International Federation, which gives the team a relative advantage in terms of the draw and the schedule of the World Championship competitions,” added Lemos.