Abu Dhabi: It’s D-Day for the Al Hanaei siblings — Maha, Mahara and Hana. Today, all three will be hitting the mat with just one thing on mind — gold at the Abu Dhabi World Youth Jiu Jitsu Championships 2016.
While Maha and Mahara will be looking to defend their titles for the third year in a row, Hana a silver medallist last year will be hoping to finish one step higher.
The pressure of the competition, however, was clearly weighing heavily on all three and they couldn’t hide their anxiety on the eve of the contest.
“The training and everything has gone well, but I’m a bit nervous and so are my sisters — Mahara and Hana. We want to win the title so badly, and Inshallah we will win,” asserted Maha the eldest of the three, who has never returned empty-handed from any tournament since the time she got hooked on to the sport at the Mariam Bint Sultan Girls School in Al Ain.
The 16-year-old, a Grade 11 student is a blue belt and is currently the highest ranked player in her age group and competes in the 56.5-kilogramme weight class juvenile category.
“In Jiu-Jitsu, anything can happen and I want to stay on guard. I hope that my nerves will ease once I enter the first bout. Then on, it will be one fight at a time. I’m very much upbeat about my chances. I want to win and meet His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces,” said Maha, who had also won silver at the American Kids National Championships in 2014 with the UAE national junior team on their inaugural tour to the United States.
Fifteen-year-old Mahara, who will be competing in the greenbelt 54.5kg teen category, revealed that being in the company of both her talented sisters was a huge plus.
“When you are together and pursuing the same dream, then things become easier. The topic for the last few months have certainly revolved around Jiu-Jitsu and it has helped me to stay calm,” said Mahara, who felt that her stiff challenge will come from local girls.
For Hana, this tournament is all about winning and she has still not got over the memories of having lost the finals.
“Had I won the title last year, it would have been three golds in our family. I was disappointed to miss out, but this year I hope will be different and I will get that record straight. It will be a huge achievement for us and our family,” said the 12-year-old, who will lock horns in the 43.5kg grey belt teen category.
Though the trio’s parents have been very supportive, they too are feeling the heat, especially the mother.
“My father will definitely be there by our side for every bout but we are still convincing our mother to be there. She gets very nervous and just can’t watch us fight and last year was the only time she came and it was for a tournament and we did well. We are trying to persuade her to be there. Hopefully, she will come to support,” revealed Maha, who adds that completing a treble will do a world of good to their confidence and inspire many more girls to take up to Jiu-Jitsu.
