Chairman Of The UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation Pushes For Jiu Jitsu To Be Included In 2020 Olympics

UAE players with officials at the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship Press Conference in Abu Dhabi on Monday. — KT photo by Nezar Balout

The seventh Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu Jitsu Championship occurs in the Capital in just a few shorts days. The President of the Asian Jiu-Jitsu Union, who also is the Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation named Abdulmunam Al Hashemi, has stated that Faisal Al Ketbi of the Emirates will do quite well as he debuts as a black belt.

The President wishes for this sport to be included in the 2020 Olympics that will be in Tokyo. They already are slated as part of the Asian Games to be held in Indonesia in 2018. Al Hashemi truly believes that Faisal Al Ketbi can go all the way to the semifinals and then win the gold model for the country.

Al Hashemi thinks that Jiu Jitsu is sure to be considered for the Olympics, since it has been approved for the Asian Games along with the Asian Beach Games to be held in 2019. The United Arab Emirates has done a great deal to help the sport grow, so this is not a stretch.

The Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu Jitsu Championship that is going to be held between April 20th and the 25th will be presided over by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. There are many female and male players who come from different backgrounds and with different strengths who are set to compete. The 4,000 competitors come from 86 countries. They will contend one another for a chance to win prizes totalling Dh 2 million.

There has been an extra day added to the Children’s Cup competition this year. This will comprise the beginning of the Championship, which has its Opening Ceremony on April 23rd.

National team members from the UAE who are planning on competing include Eid Reehan (who is a purple belt over 95), Mohamed Darwish (who is a white belt over 95), Taleb Saleh (who is a brown belt under 65), and Jaber Al Darai (who is a brown belt under 85).

Faisal Al Ketbi is a black belt under 95, and he is fighting in this division for the first time ever this year. He finds it to be a great responsibility and a learning experience. He fully believes that they can be successful in Olympic games and even win the gold. Mohamed Darwish is participating in this Championship for the first time ever. He thinks of it as a huge honour and feels that there is a lot of excitement building.

Read full story: khaleejtimes.com


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