Stage set for Jiu-Jitsu tourney
By Our Sports Reporter
12 December 2006
www.khaleejtimes.com
ABU DHABI — The third Emirates Cup Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship is expected to draw over 150 entries from in and around the country here at the UAE Wrestling and Judo Federation auditorium located at the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club on December 15 and 16.
The competition is scheduled for 2pm starts on both days with the preliminaries worked off in the opening day and the knockout phase in the following day.
“This championship has grown rapidly over the last two years with an increase of over 50 per cent expected in the third edition of this competition in the weekend. We expect not only a bigger field but quality combats over the two days,” said Carloa Santos, event manager and the head coach of the Emirates team.
“Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is not new in this region but lack of competition hasn’t done a great deal to promote or popularise the sport. I think it’s on the right track now. The competitions organised in Abu Dhabi over the past two years have set a new trend in the
Middle East,” he added.
According to Santos, the UAE capital is set to become a permanent venue for the sport with the staging of the Emirates Cup and the Abu Dhabi International Championship.
“Abu Dhabi has the infrastructure and the facilities. We started with a handful of youth but have expanded with training centres in Dubai and very soon in Al Ain.
"The turnout has been overwhelming from both, nationals and expatriates. We have a very good turnover in all ages including ladies,” stressed Santos, a three-time world champion.
“More than 50 per cent of the entries for this weekend’s competition we have already received are from the nationals and expatriate in the UAE, and the bulk of the remaining entries are from the Middle East.
"We have quite a few from Europe and both, North and South America. So this event has the flavour of a full international,” added the burly Brazilian.
The UAE had a fair share of success with Eid Rehan Salem clinching the over 99kgs weight category, Ghazi Saleh Al Minhali taking silver and Abdulla Hamed taking third place on the podium both in the Under-85kgs.
Santos said the sport has received a tremendous boost from the Armed Forces Officers Club under the directives of Lieutenant General Mohammed Hilal Al Kaabi, deputy chief of staff and president of the UAE Athletics Federation. “This kind of support can only improve and further develop the sport.
"We have been working with the world governing body to set up a national body in the UAE.
"Very soon the UAE will have a national body to function,” said Santos.
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