Jiu-Jitsu President’s Cup kicks off in Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI: The Jiu-Jitsu President’s Cup 2023 kicked off at the Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City on Friday with preliminary round competitions in the U-14 and U-16 divisions showcasing the skills of male and female athletes from various clubs and academies across the UAE. Al-Ain and Sharjah Self-Defense Sports Club secured their place in the finals for U-14 boys, while Baniyas and Sharjah Self-Defense made it to the finals in the girls’ division.

In the U-16 category, Al-Ain and Al-Wahda secured their spots in the boys’ final, while Baniyas and Al-Jazira qualified for the girls’ final. Mohammed Salem Al-Dhaheri, deputy chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, praised the athletes’ performances, saying in a press release: “The brilliance of the boys and girls on the mats reflects the efforts of clubs and academies in developing programs that improve their abilities, qualify them for competition and prepare them optimally to join the national team.

“The championship is developing year after year, and presents us with a group of new talents capable of preserving the gains made by UAE Jiu-Jitsu in the past,” he added. “There is no doubt that adding the Under-14 category to the tournament added more excitement to the competitions, especially since they represent the future and the next generation of champions.” Obaid Al-Kaabi, a director at Baniyas Sports Company, said: “Baniyas Club has been the title holder for four consecutive years in the adult category.