GULF TODAY

GULF TODAY NEWSPAPER:
UAE strike gold in Jiu jitsu

FROM OUR ABU DHABI BUREAU

UAE lads put up a splendid performance to clinch 14 medals, to emerge champions of the 13th Armed Forces Officers Club (Afoc) Opens Sports Festival on Friday night.

UAE won four gold medals through Mohammed Al Qubaisi (65kgs weight class) Khalifa Al Qubaisi (74kgs) and Faisal Al Kutbi (U-92 and open weight class).

Mahdi Al Qubaisi won silver for the UAE in the 83kgs weight class losing the gold to Dmitry Testos of Greece.

The gold for above-92kgs class went to Egypt's Tariq Matar, who defeated Amin Tawati of Sweden in the final clash, leaving the bronze for UAE's Yahya Mansour and Mohammed Al Minhali, who also got the second bronze of the weight class after placing fourth in the event.

The Jiu-Jitsu event drew 160 fighters from 28 countries including 95 contestants from the UAE.

Thaloub lauded Afoc for its continuous success in organising the Afoc Games and other sports activities in the country. He reiterated his unconditional cooperation with the Afoc to enable more successes for the country.

He said his outfit is putting finishing touches to its preparation to host a number of championships, including the Asian Jiu Jitsu Championship in December, the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship in April 2010, Judo Grand Prix, Gulf Championship and others. He attributed the successes of his outfit to the unflinching support of the UAE leadership.

In the five-a-side men's football semi-finals slated for Saturday night Al Sayyaad will meet National Archives Centre and Ground Forces to face Al Rabea of Algeria, with the final on Sunday.

A total cash prize of Dhs 400,000 is at stake with the winner taking home a trophy, gold medal and a cash prize of Dhs150,000, with the first runners-up getting Dhs120,000. The second runners-up will get Dhs75,000.

The fourth placed team will pocket a consolation prize of Dhs50,000 and the top scorer will be presented with Dhs5,000.

The finals was attended by Lieutenant General (Rtd) Mohammed Hilal Al Kaabi, Afoc Board chairman and chairman of the Higher Organising Committee, Mohammed Bin Thaloub, president of UAE Wresting, Judo and Jiu-Jitsu Federation , Obaid Al Mansouri, chief Executive of the Emirates Advanced Investment, a major sponsor of the event and many other dignitaries.

This year' s open sports festival comes to an on Sunday evening.