ABU DHABI: The Jiu-Jitsu President’s Cup concluded at the weekend in Abu Dhabi with the men and women of Baniyas Club dominating the adult competitions.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and Sheikh Zayed bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan presented trophies to the winners in the under-14 and adult divisions at Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City.
Also present was Abdel Moneim Al-Hashemi, chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, president of the Asian Jiu-Jitsu Union, and senior vice president of the Jiu-Jitsu International Federation, as well as a number of the UAEJJF’s board members and club officials.
Saturday’s competitions saw Baniyas Club dominating the adult division finals.
In the adults’ men’s competition on Saturday, Baniyas secured the top spot, with Al-Ain and Al-Jazira coming in second and third respectively. Meanwhile, in the adults’ women’s competition, Baniyas also claimed the first-place title, with Al-Wahda in second and Al-Ain in third.
In the girls’ under-14 category, Sharjah Self-Defense Sports Club took first place, with Baniyas coming in second. In the boys’ under-14 category, Al-Ain emerged victorious, with Sharjah Self-Defense taking the second spot.
“We were delighted to have the presence of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan to honor the champions, which was a huge morale boost for them. We congratulate the winning clubs and players on their remarkable achievements,” Al-Hashemi added.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al-Raisi, chairman of the board of directors of Baniyas Club, expressed delight with the club’s achievements. He praised the president and board members for helping to achieve the “wonderful results” this season including winning the UAE Volleyball League, Super Cup, and three divisions of the Jiu-Jitsu President’s Cup.
“These achievements strengthen our motivation to work harder and develop our tools, with the ultimate goal of representing UAE sports and raising our beloved country’s flag on the podiums,” he said.
Faisal Al-Ketbi, a member of the national team and Baniyas Club, said: “I want to appreciate the efforts of the Baniyas Club management and its tireless work in translating the vision of the wise leadership by focusing on all games and jiu-jitsu in particular, which doubled the number of players joining the club and contributed greatly to the development of their technical and professional levels. This made jiu-jitsu a way of life for them and attracted many young players and fans.”