The UAE national junior jiu jitsu team made a massive impression in their first overseas competition, returning with a rich haul of medals, 15 gold, 17 silver and 13 bronze in the American National Kid Championship over the weekend.
They also topped the medal standing in the Teen category and were fourth fourth overall behind Atos Jiu JItsu, Gracie Barra and CheckMat USA. Almost every one of the 48-member UAE squad, including seven girls, in the age group of 10 to 16, were on the podium in the two-day championship at the Convention Centre in Long Beach in Los Angeles, California.
The championship drew more than 330 entries in more than 100 different weight and belt categories.
“It is a remarkable achievement from our youngsters in their first competition abroad,” said Fahad Ali Al Shamsi, chief executive of the UAE Jiu Jitsu Federation.
“The results are beyond all expectations and this augurs well for the sport in the country. Our main objective of sending them abroad for a competition was to provide them with the experience. They are returning with a lot of success.
“No doubt, it is the outcome of the hard work they have put in and of course the UAEJJF’s school program. The sport is in the curriculum of more than 100 public schools which has drawn more than 30,000 children to the sport.”
The tour was sponsored by International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) and supported by Abu Dhabi Education Council and Palms Sports, the technical arm for UAEJJF.
The gold medal winners
1. Ali Abdulrahman Al Jenaibi – Male Orange/Green belt Teen Medium Heavy
weight division.
2. Khalifa Humaid Al Kaabi – Male Orange/Green Teen Medium Heavy
3. Saeed Hajhmdou – Male Yellow Teen Ultra Heavy
4. Humaid Al Kaabi – Male Yellow Teen Heavy
5. Abdulrahman Sultan Al Nuaimi – Male Yellow Teen Light
6. Saeed Al Shamsi – Male Yellow Teen Light Feather
7. Shamlan Mohamed Al Hammami – Male Yellow Teen Rooster
8. Manea Al Kaab – Male Yellow Teen Middle
9. Abdulrhamanaziz Al Ameri – Male Yellow Teen Heavy
10.Suhail Ibrahim Al Almeri – Male Yellow Teen Feather
11.Hamad Anwar Alawi Ahmed Al Afifi – Male Yellow Teen Light Feather
12.Mohammed Al Darmaki – Male Grey Teen Rooster
13.Mohammed Suhail Al Almeri – Male Grey Teen Middle
14.Nayef Nasser Al Otaibi – Male Grey Junior Feather
15.Khaled Nasser Al Otaibi – Male Grey Junior Feather
Silver medalists
1. Alyazyah Al Shyari – Female Orange/Green Teen Feather
2. Mansour Al Ketbi – Male Yellow Teen Light
3. Hadaf Jarman Alhababi – Male Yellow Teen Super Heavy
4. Abdullah Galal Al Dubaee – Male Yellow Teen Heavy
5. Aisah Al Hosani – Female Grey Teen Ultra Heavy
6. Ibraheem Al Tamimi – Male Grey Teen Super Heavy
7. Ahmad Al Blooshi – Male Orange/Green Teen Ultra Heavy
8. Khalifa Saeed Al Suwaidi – Male Orange/Green Teen Feather
9. Khalid Al Taher – Male Orange/Green Teen Middle
10.Hamad Mohammed Nawad – Male Orange/Green Teen Light Feather
11.Maha Al Hinaai – Female Orange/Green Teen Medium Heavy
12.Hajer Al Kuwaiti – Female Yellow Teen Medium Heavy
13.Mohammed Al Mansoori – Male Yellow Teen Medium Heavy
14.Khalifa Khalaf Al Hammadi – Male Yellow Teen Middle
15.Saif Al Mansoori – Male Yellow Teen Middle
16.Salem Mubarak Zayed – Male Grey Junior Ultra Heavy
17.Saqr Jameel Al Juneibi – Male Grey Junior Feather
Bronze medalists
1. Reem Al Falahi – Female Orange/Green Teen Medium Heavy
2. Wadima Alyafei – Female Orange/Green Teen Light Feather
3. Ahmed Bader Al Rejaibi – Mae Orange/Green Teen Medium Heavy
4. Mubarak Al Naamani – Male Orange/Green Teen Light
5. Khalifa Murad Nassrati – Male Orange/Green Teen Light
6. Mansour Baloushi – Male Orange/Green Teen Light Feather
7. Omar Mohammed – Male Orange/Green Teen Feather
8. Mahra Al Hunnai – Female Orange/Green Teen Middle
9. Abdulla Al Ghaithi – Male Yellow Teen Light
10.Reem Al Obeidli – Female Grey Teen Super Heavy
11.Amna Baryaa – Female Grey Junior Feather
12.Hassa Al Hosani – Female Grey Junior Light Feather
13.Qasem Naser Mansoor – Male Grey Junior Ultra Heavy
