"Baniyas" He leads the jiu-jitsu competitions on the first day of the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Ramadan Championship
Abu Dhabi, 4 March / WAM / The jiu-jitsu competitions began yesterday evening within the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Ramadan Championship – Al Wathba 2026, with fights in the under-14 and 16-year-old categories, amid wide participation from male and female players from clubs and academies across the country, in a Ramadan atmosphere characterized by enthusiasm and technical discipline.
The fights witnessed a distinct competitive level that reflects the development of the Sunni base, with the emergence of control skills in the course of the fight and the diversity of methods between ground and high play and fast movements, while several confrontations were resolved with slight differences as a result of the convergence of levels.
The organization of the jiu-jitsu competitions within the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Ramadan Championship, Al Wathba 2026, comes in a context that reflects the growing presence of the game within major community events, and confirms its important role in consolidating the culture of sports as a way of life during the holy month of Ramadan, which enhances the physical and mental continuity of the players, and provides them with a competitive platform that maintains their readiness for the upcoming events, within the framework of an integrated system that contributed to consolidating the UAE’s global leadership in this sport.
The competitions were attended by His Excellency Mohammed Salem Al Dhaheri, Vice President of the Emirates Jiu-Jitsu Federation, Fahd Ali Al Shamsi, Secretary-General of the Federation, and Abdullah Salem Al Zaabi, Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications, along with representatives of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, and a number of officials from the participating clubs and academies.
Baniyas Club came in first place, followed by Palms Sports Academy in second place, while Al Ain Club came in third place, after a strong performance and close competition between the participating clubs.
Fahd Ali Al Shamsi, Secretary-General of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation, said that organizing jiu-jitsu competitions within this distinguished tournament reflects the status the game has reached at both the societal and competitive levels, noting that the tournament’s coincidence with the “Year of the Family” gives it an additional dimension that goes beyond the limits of competition.
He added that these participations represent an investment in people before they are a competitive stage, pointing out that the presence of children on the mat with direct support from their families, and in a Ramadan environment that combines heritage and sports, reinforces the concept of a supportive family that shares with its children the journey of growth and achievement, in addition to the contribution of competitions in consolidating the values of discipline, commitment and patience.
Muhammad Khamis Al-Junaibi, the father of player Mahra Al-Junaibi, said that participating in this tournament gives the children a different experience in terms of time management and responsibility, and enhances their ability to organize their day between study and training, stressing the family’s keenness to attend and support, not only for the sake of winning, but to consolidate the value of perseverance and commitment.
For his part, player Saif Salem, from the Sharjah Self-Defense Sports Club, who achieved gold in the 55 kg category (U-16 category), confirmed that the first day’s fights constituted a real test of the technical aspects that he worked on during the last period, indicating that the focus was on accurately implementing the plan and managing the details of the fight.
The competitions will continue for two more days with matches in the under-18 category, concluding tomorrow with the adult category competitions.
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