Emirati schoolgirls’ big break in Jiu Jitsu Cup

Abu Dhabi: A bunch of ambitious schoolgirls from the UAE will be taking part in the upcoming Abu Dhabi World Jiu Jitsu Children’s Cup, which will be held next Wednesday at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).

Held under the patronage of Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, the event will see pupils from six all-female schools of the country compete on an international stage.

With 600 elite children from 28 schools across the UAE, the championship will also feature 50 of the best young competitors from USA, UK, Brazil, China and Japan. The children are aged between 10 and 14 years.

“I am really looking forward to participating in the championship and competing against athletes from around the world,” Alyazyah Khalfan Alshehyari, 13, from Al Reef School said. “It is a dream-come-true to compete on such a world stage and represent my country.”

Nurtured through a new schools’ outreach initiative, the girls will be following the footsteps of the world champion from the UAE, Shamsa Hassan, who remains one of very few female fighters in the region.

Abdul Munam Al Hashemi, Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, described the young girls as “very passionate” about Jiu-Jitsu and felt they were “really promising.”

“The UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation’s commitment to the growth of the sport locally means giving both girls and boys the opportunity to test their physical and mental skills. This is very important in securing a new generation of talent.”

The event is a curtain-raiser to the fifth annual Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu Jitsu Championship taking place from April 11-13 at ADNEC. The event aims to deliver an action-packed three days of Jiu-Jitsu with an enhanced spectator programme that is free to attend. It includes opening and closing ceremonies, sponsor activities, family events, prizes and interactive stands.