Women’s jiu-jitsu in UAE ready to shine at 2023 Asian Games and beyond, says coach

The Asian Games in Hangzhou next year remains top priority for the UAE women’s national team and coach Polyana Lago is confident the additional 12 months made available following a change to the calendar will help the team get stronger.

Lago, a four-time world champion, has already produced results with Mahra Al Hanaei winning silver when jiu-jitsu made its debut at the Asian Games in Jakarta 2018. That was followed by a bronze double by Shamma Al Kalbani at last month’s World Games in Alabama.

With the Asian Games in Hangzhou pushed back by a year to September 2023 because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Brazilian is making maximum use of the time to get the Emirati female fighters in top shape.

In Jakarta, the competition for female athletes was limited to just two weight divisions. But this time the number of gold medals on offer has been doubled with the 49kg, 51kg, 56kg and 63kg categories.

“The rescheduling of the Asian Games by a year has given us more time to prepare and to improve our girls’ world ranking points,” Lago told The National.

“We have a squad of 14 in training out of which eight will be picked with two entries in the four weight divisions.”

To improve their JJIU (Jiu-Jitsu International Union) world ranking points, the national women’s team will participate in the Balkan Open followed by the German Open, both in September, and the World Championships in November.

“High ranking points mean our girls will be placed better in the Asian Games, and also count towards qualification for the 2025 World Games,” Lago said.

Shamma Al Kalbani - the first Emirati female to win medals at the World Games - during training at the Jiu-Jitsu Arena, Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

While