Abu Dhabi: Last year's under-90kg champion and local hero Khalid Waleed Al Merri won the Superfight title, symbol of supremacy in the international category, in Friday's Abu Dhabi International Open Karate Riyu-Jitsu Championship at the UAE Wrestling and Judo Federation hall.
The Khulood Club fighter, who was 9kg heavier than his 81-kg Italian opponent Luca Zucotti, was in awesome form as he never allowed his opponent into the match.
The three-round final, each over a duration of two minutes, ended after just two rounds with Al Merri winning the title with the quickest knockdown in the competition. Zucotti withdrew from the third round, conceding defeat.
Al Merri later said he was very happy to win the international competition. "This year it was a different format and it was an open event unlike last year. I am very delighted with this victory and I owe it to my club and my father," said Al Merri, whose father Waleed Al Merri is the man behind the sport in the UAE.
Al Merri had finished eighth in the KO and Point tournament held in Tokyo earlier.
Main event
The international Superfight was the main event in the one-day Riyu Jitsu championship, held under the patronage of Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
In another heavyweight category event, Russian Litshy Korbano (93kg) emerged winner, defeating Erik Viklund (87kg) of Sweden. The Russian was also adjudged the Best Fighter of the competition, while the Swede got an award for the Best Endurance, having fought a total of six rounds.
Earlier, the 3rd UAE International Open competition for juniors was held with more than 100 youngsters from different nations.
Competitions were held in various age groups. Those who excelled were Lebanon's Aliya Walid Merri (8 years), Sudan's Hussam Mohammad (9), UAE's Mohammad Saeed Al Shamsi (10), India's Mohammad Hussain Hakim (10), Lebanon's Omar Hasbini (10), India's Aditya Menon (11), UAE's Gaith Al Muhairi (12) and Abdullah Al Qubaisi (13), Syria's Ebrahim Danoora (14), and Sudan's Mohammad Al Rashid.
Saif Al Suwaidi, general manager of Zadco, and Waleed Hassan Al Merri, president of the World Karatedo Riyu-Jitsu Association, gave away the prizes.
