With UAE stars at Beach Games, Dubai International Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship presents opportunity

The Dubai International Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship will offer an open chance to up-and-comers this weekend with the UAE's best at the Asian Beach Games in Vietnam, Amith Passela reports.

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With the cream of the crop of Emirati jiu-jitsu players set for national duty at the fifth Asian Beach Games in Vietnam starting on Saturday, their absence has provided an opportunity to those left behind to vie for some domestic silverware in the Dubai International Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship at the weekend.

Conspicuous in their absence are the top notch fighters from the UAE national team, including Faisal Al Ketbi, Yahia Mansour Al Hammadi, Zayed Al Kaabi and Taleb Al Kirbi, who will be part of the 13-member men’s team. The women’s team consists of 10 players.

Another to miss-out is Jose Junior, the Abu Dhabi-based Brazilian who has carved out a name as a leading challenger for titles on both the domestic and international circuits.

“I was on vacation in the US and returned only three days ago. So I’m not ready for this one,” said Junior.

“Unfortunately I will have to miss the Dubai event and start preparing for the Grand Slam Tokyo,” on October 23.

Junior was runner-up in both the absolute division of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Championship in April and the 110-kilogram weight in the Grand Slam Lose Angeles earlier this month.

The Dubai International Championship at the Al Ahli Club has drawn more than 200 entries from both men and women from 20 nations battling for a slice of the Dh100,000 prize purse.

The opening day’s action on Friday will be for No Gi (without the traditional kimono) and the competition for Gi on Saturday.

“We are excited to host yet another edition of the Dubai International Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship following the success it has enjoyed over the past years,” said Abdulmunam Al Hashemi, chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation.

“We are confident that we will witness some fantastic matches this year and especially look forward to watch the 14 participating Emirati clubs in action. We are confident that they will match their international counterparts.”

The Dubai event is the first domestic championship after the new season got underway with the inaugural Asian Beach Championship in Sri Lanka followed by the Grand Slam Los Angeles and the Cadet World Cup (U15) in Cyprus last weekend.

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