UAE Jiu-Jitsu team leaves for Mongolia

The UAE National Jiu-Jitsu Team is entering the fourth largest squad in the championships. - Supplied photo

A strong UAE Jiu-Jitsu team is headed for Mongolia for this week's 4th Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship confident of following its recent success at the Kazakhstan Jiu-Jitsu Grand Prix by claiming continental glory.
The UAE Jiu-Jitsu Falcons squad that departed for the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar on Sunday, for the championship which runs from July 17-21 at the Central Sports Palace, features 23 of the country's best athletes from five jiu-jitsu clubs across the UAE: Al Ain, Al Jazira, Al Wahda, Baniyas and Team 777.
With 349 entries from 21 nations across Asia, the 4th Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championship is shaping up to be the most competitive edition to date and demonstrates the growing strength and popularity of jiu-jitsu across the continent.
"The diverse range of athletes joining us in Ulaanbaatar underlines the ever-growing popularity of our sport across Asia and reinforces the inclusivity of jiu-jitsu," said Fahad Ali, Al Shamsi, CEO of UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation.
The fact that the UAE National Jiu-Jitsu Team is entering the fourth largest squad in the championship, after Mongolia (92), Thailand (59), and Chinese Taipei (33), shows the strength in depth of jiu-jitsu in the Emirates.
"The athletes have trained very hard and have shown great commitment and dedication to earn the right to represent our country on the continental stage. Jiu-Jitsu is in such a strong position in the UAE, we are a proud jiu-jitsu nation," added Al Shamsi.
After claiming 14 medals at the recent Kazakhstan Jiu-Jitsu Grand Prix, the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Falcons are in confident mood heading to Mongolia.
"The championship is special as it includes jiu-jitsu talent from across Asia and I have been working to this tournament with the aim of achieving great results. The UAE National Jiu-Jitsu Team competed in a recent championship in Kazakhstan and bagged a number of medals which gives us an additional motivation to win gold medals at the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship," said Mohammed Al Qubaisi, from Team 777, who will take to the mat in the Men's 77kg event on July 17.
Teammate, Sultan Al Ali, who represents Al Jazira Club, added: "I have been in an intensive training camp in Abu Dhabi to prepare for this moment and I'm ready to compete. Being one of the UAE National Team is an honor and I hope to represent my country with pride. I am excited to be part of the journey and to bring back a medal validating that UAE and Abu Dhabi are the homeland of Jiu-Jitsu globally." Al Ali will go for gold in the 94-kg category on July 19.
The female members of the squad are also in bullish mood heading into the championship. Al Ain's Hessa Al Shamsi, who goes in the Women's 57kg event on July 18, said: "I've made sure I'm prepared, and my aim is to gain the gold medal. However, in The Year of Tolerance it is important to remember good sportsmanship as athletes and whatever the results we should be happy with it as long as we have done our best."
Al Shamsi's teammate Maha Al Hinnai, will also compete in the Women's 57kg. "I've been training twice a day for this moment. Representing the UAE is an honour and I want to pay my country back by winning and enhancing the global reputation of the UAE players in Jiu-Jitsu. I'm grateful to the to the UAE leadership and the UAE Jiu-Jitsu federation for their continuous support in giving us a platform to shine."