Athletes will vie for medals and cash prizes totaling over Dhs1.5 million, culminating in the championship title in the final round in December.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation has announced that the first round of the Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship will be held at Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City from June 28-30.

The three-day event marks the beginning of the five-round championship, which will include competitions across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Fujairah throughout 2024, featuring kids, youth, adults, and masters categories. Three rounds will be for the Gi category, while two rounds will be for the no-Gi category.

With registration closed for the first round, an unprecedented 3,000 athletes aged 4–30 from various clubs and academies are set to compete in different belt and weight categories.

Athletes will vie for medals and cash prizes totaling over Dhs1.5 million, culminating in the championship title in the final round in December.

A comprehensive ranking system is in place to recognise athletes and clubs based on their performance in all rounds of the championship.

Friday, the first day of the event, will feature competitions for men and women in U18, adults, and masters categories. The second day will focus on kids’ categories, as well as girls in U12, U14, and U16 categories. The first-round competitions will conclude on Sunday, the third day, with boys in U12, U14, and U16-category competitions.

“The launch of the Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship represents a significant step in cementing the UAE’s leadership in promoting and developing the jiu-jitsu sport,” said Mohamed Salem Al Dhaheri, Vice Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation. “The championship highlights promising talents and provides a unique platform for all athletes to showcase and refine their skills.

“The Khaled Bin Mohamed Bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship, reflects the UAE leadership’s limitless support for jiu-jitsu, providing all necessary elements for athletes to achieve excellence locally, regionally, and internationally.

“It also marks a new chapter of the Federation’s cooperation with partners and sponsors, contributing strongly to the continued advancement of jiu-jitsu, expanding the base of practitioners in Emirati society, and instilling the noble values the sport is known for among emerging generations. The championship, bearing a name dear to our hearts, motivates athletes and encourages them to strive for excellence in training, ensuring the presence of successive generations of champions who can raise the UAE flag in international forums.”

Mahmoud Al-Sayed, director of the Jiu-Jitsu Academy at Al-Wahda Club, said: “The importance of this championship lies in its role in uncovering and refining talents. It enhances competition between local clubs and academies by bringing together multiple groups, from kids to youth, masters and professionals, celebrating the sport’s spirit.

“We are keen to participate in the championship, which will become a permanent part of our events calendar for our athletes, moving forward.”

Pedro Damasceno, a coach with Palms Sports, added: “Our athletes are very excited to participate in the championship and have put in great effort in training. The championship gives them the ideal platform to highlight their skills and practically apply their training in competitions that match the level of the major international championships. This tournament also comes in line with our plans and strategies to develop the athletes’ skills and elevate their levels.”

Haneen Alkhoori of Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club, competing in the U-16 - 57 kg category, said: “I am excited to participate in the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship, as it is an ideal opportunity to test my abilities against the elite athletes in the country. I feel optimistic and confident that I will give a strong performance, no matter the challenge. I thank the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation for continuously organising major championships and adding new ones, providing us with a season full of events and broader opportunities for development and growth.”