Emirates team emerge champs
EMIRATES team members, with 15 medals, won the Asian Super Cup Jiu Jitsu team championship, at the UAE Wrestling and Judo Federation (UAEWJF) arena in Abu Dhabi, over the weekend.
The two-day event drew 150 competitors from 30 countries and $38,000 was on offer as prizes.
The open event was under the patronage of Sheikh Zayed Bin Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan with Lieutenant General (retd) Mohammed Hilal Al Kaabi as the chairman of the organising committee.
Sheikh Zayed gave away the trophies. The award ceremony was also attended by Mohammed Bin Thaloob, president of UAEWJF.
Jordan and Brazil finished second and third respectively. They were followed by Portugal and Spain.
For the first time, members of the Brazilian national team (all black holders) made their appearance here, to show their skill.
In the open category, Brazilian Gabriel Tayler took the first place from Emirati Eid Reehan. The Emirati is one of the best-known Brazilian Jiu Jitsu fighters in the UAE who recently won best competitor award for his fine performance here during the year.
Tarik Mattar of Egypt and Akim Shomirzoehn took the third and fourth place respectively.
Reehan entered the open weight category having won the over-99 kg class. Apart from him, Rashed Humaid (62 kgs) and Bader Sinani (99 kgs) also won gold medals in the events reserved for amateurs.
Carlos Santos, event organiser and head coach of Emirates team, expressed his gratitude to all the establishments which have sponsored the event and all those individuals who have put in much effort in organising the event so successfully. He added that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a fast-growing martial art and it will grow even more in this part of the world.
He also said that the first Professional Jiu Jitsu World Cup to be held in Abu Dhabi on April 23-25, 2009 and $100,200 will be awarded in prizes.
Competitors from Brazil, US, Europe and Asian countries will vie for top honours in the world event and it will feature 10 weight categories including under-62 kgs, under-67 kgs, under-72 kgs, under-82 kgs, under-87 kgs, under-93 kgs, under-99, and over-99 and an open weight category.
The qualifying rounds for the Abu Dhabi event will be held in Brazil, US, Canada, Australia, Japan and Spain.
Meanwhile, a 14-member UAE team will leave for Jordan on Tuesday, to take part in the Capital Challenge Jiu Jitsu Championship to be held in Amman between Dec.19 and 2l.
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