Baniyas maintains the lead at the end of the fifth round of the Khalid bin Mohammed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship

Abu Dhabi, June 28 / WAM / The fifth round of the third edition of the Khalid bin Mohammed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship for the Suit category was concluded today at the Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi, with the holding of fights in the under-12, 14 and 16-year-old categories, amid wide participation of male and female club and academie players from various parts of the country, and a large audience attendance, reflecting the growing status of jiu-jitsu. As the national sport in the UAE, and the most widespread among various segments of society.

In terms of competitions, Baniyas Club maintained the top spot in the overall standings for the final day’s competitions, while Palms Sports Academy came in second place, and Al Ain Club came in third place.

The competitions were attended, and participated in the crowning of the winners, by Sheikh Zayed bin Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Excellency Abdul Moneim Al Hashemi, President of the Emirati and Asian Federations, First Vice President of the International Jiu-Jitsu Federation, His Excellency Younis Haji Al Khouri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance, His Excellency Mohammed Salem Al Dhaheri, Vice President of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation, Mansour Mohammed Al Dhaheri, Member of the Federation’s Board of Directors, Fahd Ali Al Shamsi, Secretary-General, and a number of department officials. The Federation’s executive, sponsors, and representatives of clubs and academies.

The closing day was an important station in the course of the tour, after the competitions moved to the age groups that represent the base of the pyramid in the player preparation system, where distinguished technical levels emerged that reflected the quality of the qualification and training programs in clubs and academies, and the continuous development in the capabilities of young players, whether on the technical or mental level, through adherence to instructions, respect for the competitor, and the ability to deal with the atmosphere of professional competitions.

The stands embodied the close connection between the sport of jiu-jitsu and the Emirati family, as family presence has become one of the most important elements of supporting the players, contributing to developing their level, and consolidating the values ​​of commitment, discipline and perseverance in them.

His Excellency Younis Haji Al Khouri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance, said that the conclusion of the fifth round confirms the importance of investing in age groups as it is a fundamental pillar for the development of Emirati sports, noting that regular tournaments contribute to building a strong base of players, help clubs develop their programs, and support the federations’ efforts to prepare generations capable of representing the country in the future.

He added that what distinguishes the tournament is its ability to combine the quality of organization, intensity of participation, and community presence, explaining that the participation of players at such an early age within an integrated professional environment gives them important competitive experiences, contributes to building their sports personalities, and enhances their self-confidence and their belonging to their clubs and their country.

For his part, Mansour Mohammed Al Dhaheri, a member of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation, stressed that the competitions in the under-12, 14 and 16-year-old categories reflect the promising future of jiu-jitsu in the country, as they are the starting point in building the player and consolidating his values ​​of discipline and responsibility, pointing out that the tournament provides the federation and clubs with accurate indicators to measure the development of players, evaluate their levels, and identify aspects that need further development.

He added that preparing players at these age stages requires long-term work, and that true success is measured by the player’s ability to continuously develop and gain experience from one round to the next, stressing at the same time that the family represents a major partner in this system, and that the remarkable presence of parents reflects the growing awareness of the importance of sports in building the character of children, and gives the tournament educational and societal dimensions in addition to its competitive dimension.

Sumaya Faqir Mohammed Al Balushi, the mother of Sarah Abdullah Mohammed Al Balushi and Mansour Abdullah Mohammed Al Balushi from Palms Sports Academy, said that the family is keen to attend tournaments to support and encourage the children, stressing that the sport of jiu-jitsu contributed to instilling the values ​​of commitment, respect for time and calmness in the face of pressure, values ​​that were reflected positively in their daily lives.

She added that the tournament gives children an integrated competitive experience from the moment they enter the hall until the end of the competition, which contributes to building self-confidence and enhancing the ability to accept challenges and benefit from various experiences, whether by winning or learning from the competition.

Mariam Rashid Mohammed, from Baniyas Club, who won the gold medal in the under-14 57 kg competition, expressed her happiness at achieving first place, stressing that she benefited from every fight and took a new step towards developing her level, expressing her aspiration to continue training and achieve better results in the upcoming tournaments.

The Khalid bin Mohammed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship continues to consolidate its position as one of the most prominent national championships supporting the jiu-jitsu process in the UAE, by providing regular competitions according to the highest technical and organizational standards, which strengthens the base of practitioners, supports the efforts of clubs and academies in preparing future champions, and keeps pace with the country’s vision aimed at consolidating its global leadership in this sport.

• For more: Follow Khaleejion 24 Arabic, Khaleejion 24 English, Khaleejion 24 Live, and for social media follow us on Facebook and Twitter