World-class sporting competition on the cards in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi: Reigning world champion Rodolfo Vieira Srour leads a strong pack of fighters taking part in the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2013 starting on Thursday, with a handful of UAE fighters also hoping to make a big impression.

With a prize fund of Dh1.45 million up for grabs, the fifth edition of this popular world event has attracted more than 750 men and women fighters, including Gabrielle Garcia, a seven-time world champion from Brazil.

The UAE stars in action will be Faisal Al Ketbi, the winner of both the 100kg as well as the open section in the purple belt category last year and Yahya Al Hammadi - a semi-finalist in the same category but now taking part in the brown belt section.

“We have worked very hard and are well prepared. We are confident of a good showing,” said Al Ketbi, who is the UAE’s current number one.

“We have attended two camps and with so much of focus on this sport, we hope to keep the UAE flag flying high,” added Al Hammadi.

Ahmad Mousa Al Nuaimi (blue belt), Abdullah Al Ketbi (seniors – Blue belt) and Shamsa Hassan (female blue belt) are also expected to perform strongly against their world-class rivals.

Mohammad Al Mahmoud, Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, said: “The Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship and World Jiu-Jitsu Children’s Cup are instrumental not only in inspiring local people to take part in sport, but also in establishing and maintaining the status of Abu Dhabi as one of the world’s leading nations for sports.”

The children’s event will have around 50 international entries to join the 600-plus UAE participants, with girls from six UAE schools adding to the line-up.

Mohammad Al Dhaheri, vice-chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said the huge number of children in the fray was a direct result of taking jiu-jitsu to schools as part of their extra curricular activity.

Samera Al Romaithi, board member and CEO of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said: “On the sidelines of the championship, the Federation have chalked out a star-studded family event to celebrate the championship’s fifth anniversary with the attendance of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) superstars BJ Penn and Demian Maia among a host of new attractions to entertain all at the free-to-attend event.”

The Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship and the World Jiu-Jitsu Children’s Cup will both be held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) – ICC Hall.