Winners pose for a picture with the officials during the presentation ceremony.

Sharjah Self-Defence Sports Club showcased dominance in the adults division competitions of Jiu-Jitsu event at 11th Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament.

With the two-day tournament culminating in thrilling matchups on Monday evening, Sharjah Self-Defense claimed first place, while Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club and Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club clinched second and third places, respectively.

Brazil emerged at the top of the medal standings, it was an elite group of fighters from the home country that basked in glory at the main indoor hall of the Nad Al Sheba (NAS) Sports Complex.

With competitions in every weight category getting tougher with each round, it was the team representing Sharjah Defence Sports Club and Brazil topping the medals tally in the clubs and nations categories respectively.

Brazil rightly proved their dominance with a haul of 37 medals after two days of intense competition and contests. The Brazilian squad won 12 gold, 15 silver and ten bronze for a total of 37 medals.

Brazil was simply unstoppable on the concluding day of competition as they added another nine gold medals to their overnight three gold medals that had been won by Thiago Marques (Male Masters 72kg), Andre Luiz De Almeida (Male Masters 85kg) and Renato Cardoso (Male Masters 100kg).

Sharjah Defence Sports Club finished the two-day competition with 269 points, leaving Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club and Bani Yas Jiu-Jitsu Club in second and third respectively.

Sharjah Defence Sports Club took home ten medals, including five gold, one silver and four bronze, while Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club had a haul of 13 medals including three gold and silver apiece and seven bronze.

Bani Yas Jiu-Jitsu Club took the third spot overall on the table with nine medals, including four gold and silver each and one bronze.

Yousef Abdullah Al Batran, Board Member of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, noted that the NAS Sports Jiu-Jitsu Tournament, organised by the Dubai Sports Council in collabortaion with the UAEJJF, was an exceptional event that brought together the most talented athletes and a remarkable number of fans.

“Jiu-Jitsu in the UAE is constantly evolving and progressing from one success to another, whether in terms of developing the athletes’ skills or the level of organising and hosting major tournaments. This is evident with the growing interest in participating in championships like the NAS Sports Jiu-Jitsu Tournament,” said Al Batran.

“The UAEJJF is eager to organise numerous sporting events throughout the year, providing competitors with the opportunity to enhance and develop their skills, as well as maintain their physical fitness and mental readiness.”

Ahmed Abdul Rahman Al Owais, Chairman of Sharjah Self-Defense Sports Club, congratulated the champions of the Sharjah Self-Defense Sports Club on their exceptional performances on Monday. “I want to express my appreciation to the UAEJJF and Dubai Sports Council for organising the championship in such an exemplary manner. The global jiu-jitsu community eagerly anticipates the NAS Sports Jiu-Jitsu Tournament year after year, and it has become a popular event in the UAE’s sporting calendar.”

Brazilian Rafaela Bertolot of Al Wahda Club Jiu-Jitsu Academy, who clinched gold in the Female Gi/Black/Adult/72kg category, said: “I thank the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation and the Dubai Sports Council for organising this tournament and providing us with the opportunity to compete in intense competitions alongside the elite athletes in the country. Additionally, winning a gold medal fills me with joy.”

For his part, Jassem Abdullah Alhosani of Sharjah Self-Defense Sports Club, who won a gold medal in Male Gi/Purple/Adult/85kg, added: “The NAS Sports Jiu-Jitsu Tournament provided an ideal platform for the athletes to showcase their skills, test their methods, evaluate the extent of their progress, and discover any weak points. The competitions were difficult, but I was able to win in the end, and I believe that this victory marks an important milestone in my career.”