Abu Dhabi: The Brazilians dominated the opening day of the two-day Emirates Asian Super Cup Jiu Jitsu competition with fighters from the UAE also putting up a good show at the Abu Dhabi Combat Club arena inside the Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club on Friday.
The preliminary rounds of action in the two separate categories were held in the Dh100,000 championship being organised by the Abu Dhabi Combat Club and the Armed Forces Officers Club.
All four semifinalists in the Open event of the Purple and Brown category were Brazilians with Santiago Oliveira, Diego Pereira, Tiago Pereira and Luiz Fernando coming through.
In the U-78 section, the UAE's Numan Al Qubaisi, Jordan's Zeid Abu Soud, Tunisia's Hassan Mussa joined the lone Brazilian Renan Eubank in the final fight for medals.
The UAE's Yahya Mansour also did well to advance to the final four in the over-90 kg section.
Other UAE competitors who made it to the second day's medal round were Ali Al Mansouri (U-62 kg), Saif Al Nuaimi (U-68kg), M. Abdullah, Khalifa Al Qubeisi and Essam Al Hamad (U-80kg), Mohammad Rashid and Abdullah Al Ketbi (U-92kg), Badr Al Sinani and Mohammad Al Minhali (U-98 kg), Eid Rihaan (+98kg) and Badr Al Sinani (Open).
"The opening day witnessed some very close contests and those present were treated to some skilful wrestling.
"The UAE team in particular revealed a lot of promise and potential," said Carlos Santos, a three-time world champion from Brazil and event co-ordinator.
All four semifinalists in the Open event of the Purple and Brown category were Brazilians.
