MOD UAE leads after day 1 of Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Fujairah

FUJAIRAH: The opening day of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship – Round 4 (Gi) concluded with MOD UAE taking first place after an impressive showing, with Al-Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club in second place and Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club in third.

Friday saw intense competition across the Men’s and Women’s U-18, Adults and Masters divisions. Athletes showcased their abilities in a series of challenging matches, with numerous submissions and high-level grappling, setting an exciting tone for the weekend.

On Saturday the spotlight turns to the sport’s up-and-coming talents. Boys and girls in the Kids categories, along with Girls U-12, U-14, U-16 and Boys U-12, will step onto the mat. The championship wraps up on Oct. 13 ahead of the final round in Abu Dhabi this December.

The first day drew a host of high-profile individuals, including Dr. Ahmed Hamdan Al-Zeyoudi, director of the Fujairah Crown Prince’s Office; Maj. Gen. Mohammed bin Ghanem Al-Kaabi, commander-in-chief of Fujairah Police; Mohammed Ahmed Al-Yamahi, member of the Federal National Council; Mohamed Salem Al-Dhaheri, vice chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation; Yousef Abdullah Al-Batran, board member of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation; Nasser Mohammed Al-Yamahi, director general of Fujairah Culture and Media Authority; and Abdullah Ali Al-Dhanhani, director of Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank — Fujairah Branch.

Al-Zeyoudi praised the tournament’s organization and quality. “We’re proud to host such an important event like Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship in front of a large audience. The athletes showed impressive technical skill, proving this championship is a key platform for developing athletes and preparing them for high-level competition.” He also thanked the organizing committee and the Zayed Sports Complex team for their work in making the event a success.

Meanwhile, Al-Dhaheri said that the championship reflects the strong support the sport of jiu-jitsu receives from the country’s leadership.

“It also highlights our commitment to fostering a vibrant sports culture,” he added. “This championship plays a vital role in developing athletes’ skills and opening doors for them to lead the sport in the future. Today’s outstanding performances prove that the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation’s efforts to promote the sport are on the right track.

“The championship plays a key role in building a strong foundation of talented athletes, motivated to excel both locally and internationally. This is driven by an innovative ranking system that encourages continuous growth and skill development.”

Talisson Suarez, coach at MOD Jiu-Jitsu Academy, said that the event had raised the bar in terms of regional athletes taking part.

“Our athletes performed strongly in the first three rounds, and we have a great chance to compete for the title,” he said. “Today’s matches were a real test of their abilities, and the level of competition constantly pushes us to adapt our strategies. I’m proud of what our athletes accomplished today and look forward to continuing this momentum through to the final.”

Andre Luiz de Almeida of Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club, who won gold in the Men’s Adults/Master -85kg division, said: “I’m really happy to win the gold and help Al-Ain Club earn valuable points before the final round. The Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Championship is special because of its elite level of competition, bringing together top athletes in an environment that truly challenges and develops our skills.”