8th Edition of Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship Kicks Off In Abu Dhabi

The eighth Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship begins Friday at Mubadala Arena, under the directives of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council.

Mubarak Saleh Al Menhali, Director of the Technical Department at the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, noted that more than 100 athletes from the UAE will compete in this championship across various weight categories.

"I appreciate the efforts of the technical staff and athletes, who have dedicated weeks to rigorous training in preparation for this competition. Their hard work during the intensive training camps has elevated the national team's technical and physical skills, preparing them for the competitions," Al Menhali was quoted as saying by WAM.

The countries that will participate in the 8th Jiu-Jitsu Asain Championship include Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Chinese Taipe, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Palestine, the Philippines, and South Korea. Additionally, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Yemen.

Kazakhstan-based athletes top the list with the largest delegation of 300 participants while the UAE has 129, Uzbekistan 116, India 68, Mongolia 60, and South Korea 58 athletes.

The UAE national team is aiming to receive the championship title for the fourth consecutive year. Marina Ribeiro, the UAE Jiu-Jitsu National Women's Team coach, said she is confident in the team's ability to win the title one more time.

"We have finalized our training regimen and strategy for the championship. Our team members are showing great confidence, and we wish them the best," she said.

Sagiyev Kuat, President of the Kazakhstan Jiu-Jitsu Association, said his team is ready for the championship with 70 athletes in the adult division.

"We are well-prepared to improve upon our second-place finish last year. Our preparations have been thorough since the previous edition, and we are determined to claim the top spot," he said. "I commend Abu Dhabi for its efforts in promoting the sport globally, organizing major events, and fostering collaborations within the jiu-jitsu community."

Allan Marcus, Coach for the Philippine Team, said that his team consists of 25 athletes including gold medalists from the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games and 2023 World Combat Games, adding that they have been training rigorously.

Last month, the UAE's Dubai Opera hosted the opening ceremony of the first Gulf Youth Games, featuring 3,500 male and female athletes competing in 25 individual and team sports.