Abu Dhabi: A 14-strong UAE contingent will be leaving for Tokyo on Wednesday to take part in the first round of the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour 2015-16. Over 500 Jiu-Jitsu players from across the globe are expected to take part in the event.
The first round of the competition, which will be held on August 29 at the Sumida City Gymnasium, Tokyo, will be followed by another round in Los Angeles on October 18. The third round will be held at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro on December 5-6 followed by the last one in London from March 19-20 next year.
Leading the UAE challenge at the tournament will be Faisal Al Ketbi. The black belt holder will be competing in the open and weight categories and was confident of coming up trumps.
“This is a very good chance to compete against some of the best players and we have a very good ranking. We have four rounds and a points system and, at the end, the top ranking will be decided on the points each player has. For us, it will also be a good preparation for the World Pro,” Al Ketbi said at the launch of the Tour on Tuesday.
“Personally, I would like to win a gold in the Open and weight division. It will be a good sign for me that we are going in the right way. The team is also fit and well trained and hopefully we will do well. It is also a chance for us to see new players competing for the national team,” added Al Ketbi.
However, another promising youngster, Yahya Mansour, has been left out of the squad. “Yahya is a key member of our squad but this time round he has been left out as a lot of other factors were considered — previous performances and so on. However, he should definitely be there in the second round,” revealed Fahed Ali Al Shamsi, Chief Executive of UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation.
Abdul Munam Al Hashemi, Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said that the event marked a new beginning for the federation. “The Abu Dhabi Grand Slam represents a new start for the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation towards making it global by organising 4 tours in significant international destinations where Jiu-jitsu enjoys great popularity. The event will initiate a new phase of shifting the focus from consumers to decision makers,” said Al Hashemi, who also expressed the view that the new tournament will play a major role in the development of the sports worldwide and within the UAE.
“The Abu Dhabi Grand Slam represents a new start for the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation towards making it global by organising four Tours in significant international destinations where Jiu-jitsu enjoys great popularity. The event will initiate a new phase of shifting the focus from consumers to decision makers,” Al Hashemi said.
Brazilian black belt holder coach Roberto Correa, who has been roped in to oversee the preparation of the UAE team along with another reputed coach Ramon Lemos, said: “I’m involved with Jiu-Jitsu as a professional for the last 25 years and for me this is the biggest thing happening in the sport right now. It will help promote the sport internationally.”
