Abu Dhabi: The 12-member team that represented the UAE at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam in Tokyo did themselves proud when each of them returning with a medal.
They clinched six golds, three silver and three bronze to record their best ever performance at a Grand Slam event.
Ebrahim Al Naqbi won gold in the blue belt 94kg, while ace performer Faisal Al Ketbi settled for silver in the black belt 85kg. Yahia Mansour Al Hammadi, who had been on a roll with two golds in the weight and open category at the Asian Beach Games in Vietnam, had to be content with bronze in the brown belt 110kg.
“After the success at the Asian Beach Games, we wanted to come here in Tokyo and do the same, and even much better. We achieved that as a team. Congratulations to my opponent, he was very tough and he deserves respect,” said Ketbi, adding: “The support that we get from the fans back home and the jiu-jitsu community around the world is incredible.”
Other gold medal winners were: Mohammad Al Mehri (62kg), Abdullah Ismail Al Senaani (77kg) and Mubarak Basharhil (94kg), all in the white belt category, Musabbeh Al Khatri (purple Masters-1) and Mohammed Al Qubaisi (brown Masters 85kg).
Nasser Al Breiki took silver in the blue belt 69kg and Sultan Al Ali pocketed bronze in the purple belt 110kg. Saeed Bin Fahad took bronze in the white 69kg and Nasser Samtar won silver in the white Masters 77kg to complete the tally.
