Abu Dhabi: Asian Games gold medallist Faisal Al Ketbi will be leading the UAE’s challenge in the 94kg Open category at the Jiu-Jitsu World Championships, to be held in Malmo, Sweden, on November 22-24.
Abdullah Al Qubaisi will also be vying for top honours in the same category as Ketbi. The 11-member squad also includes Omar Al Fadhli, who won a silver medal in Jakarta.
However, Hamad Nawaz, who won gold medal in Jakarta in the 56kg category is missing from the list following nose surgery. Thalib Al Kerbi is also another regular missing from the squad having hung up his boosts after his silver medal performance in Jakarta.
The team was involved in a month-long training camp at the Mubadala Arena to enhance their physical, psychological capabilities and professional skills. The training also comprised of a boot champ.
Coach Ramon Lemos said that the boot camp went exceptionally well and according to plan, while keeping up with the necessary training and nutritional programmes.
“The effect of the camp on the athletes’ performance level and their physical and psychological readiness for the upcoming World Championships in Sweden is obvious. Our goal is to win gold medals and secure places on the winners’ podium proudly,” said Lemos, adding, “This is what we work towards daily with athletes by developing their physical capabilities and training them in new and innovative techniques that will guarantee their success.”
Other players in squad include Obaid Al Noaimi (56kg category), Zayed Al Mansouri and Khalifa Nassrati (62kg category), Abdullah Al Junaibi and Saeed Bin Fahad (69kg category), Mohammad Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (77kg category), Mohammad Al Amri (85kg category).
The technical delegation accompanying the team to Sweden is headed by Abdullah Salem Al Zaabi, deputy technical director at the UAEJJF, Abdullah Hajji Al Shamsi, the team’s director, along with referees Obaid Al Kaabi and Ebrahim and Hosni, coaches Ramon Lemos and Helder Medeiros, and team physician Dennis Osbi.