AFNT crowned champions at AJP Tour Asia Continental Jiu-Jitsu Championship

The 2023 AJP Tour Asia Continental Jiu-Jitsu Championship concluded at the Shabab Al-Ahli Club in Dubai with exceptional performances from the athletes on its final day.

Organized by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF) in partnership with Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro (AJP), the competition provided a thrilling experience for fans who came to support their favorite players.

The three-day championship featured intense bouts that brought together some of the most prominent professional athletes, both locally and internationally.

In the third day of the championship, which was allocated to professional athletes, AFNT was crowned the champion, Commando Group was the runner-up, and Kazakhstan National Athletes secured the third position.

Mohammed Salem Al Dhaheri, Vice President of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, praised the overall level of the tournament and its success in providing a platform for the brightest professional athletes to showcase their skills and compete fiercely for a place on the podium.

Dhaheri stated, “The high participation rates were driven by the tournament’s quality and high technical standards, as well as the desire of clubs and academies to ensure their players are fully prepared for upcoming key events like the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship.”

The Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship will take place at the Mubadala Arena in Zayed sports city on November 1-11.

Rodrigo Valerio, Operations Director at Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro (AJP), emphasized that The AJP Tour Asia Continental Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2023 builds on the success of tournaments held worldwide.

He said, “We are just a few weeks away from the kick-off of the 15th edition of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, as well as the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Awards. “The significant presence of professionals in the AJP Asia Championship, coming from abroad, indicates that they have entered a crucial phase of preparations for the upcoming competitions.

“Most of them have chosen to stay in Abu Dhabi and engage in preparatory camps for the most important event in November, benefiting from the exceptional training opportunities provided by the Jiu-Jitsu capital,” added Valerio.

The 2023 AJP Tour Asia Continental Jiu-Jitsu Championship featured strong participation from both male and female players from outside the UAE who were able to clinch numerous medals.

Ali Monfaradi from Bahrain and the “Elements JJ” Academy, who won gold in the black belt competitions in the professional category, weighing 77 kg, said: “I am proud of the achievement I attained today and the victories in all the tough fights I faced against champions from South America.

“My upcoming training will be split between Bahrain and my second home, the UAE, as I have entered the final preparation stage for the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, and I have many goals in this most important tournament of my career.”

Kazakh Galina Duvanova, a black belt from the Kazakh National Academy, who achieved gold in the professional women’s 62 kg weight class, expressed her happiness: “I feel very proud to stand on the podium in the AJP Tour Asia Continental Jiu-Jitsu Championship. I am proud of the performance I displayed today, which is the result of continuous work with the technical staff and their wise decision to hold a camp for academy players in the UAE to prepare for upcoming competitions.”

The championship also witnessed strong performances from UAE athletes who reached the podium and captured numerous medals. Emirati champion Marwa Al Hosani, a purple belt from Baniyas Club, delivered an impressive performance and secured gold in the women’s 70-kg category. She dedicated her achievement to her club, her supporters, and everyone who contributed to her significant victory.

“My goal was to improve my ranking within the AJP’s standings, and I successfully added 1,400 points to my score. Most importantly, I managed to outperform notable players from Germany and Colombia.”