Abu Dhabi World Championship begins today
ABU DHABI // It is almost like the final school examination before graduating to the next level for Alyazyah Al Shehyari.
Earmarked as one of the rising Emirati female jiu-jitsu stars she will be among the 1,272 players in action on the opening day of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
The 10-day long championship gets underway Friday with the Abu Dhabi Kids Festival for girls at the Ipic Arena at Zayed Sports City.
Read more from Amith Passela:
• Olympics will be the next stop for jiu-jitsu, with the 2024 Games the most likely target
• Faisal Al Ketbi wins another silver medal ahead of Abu Dhabi World Professional Championship
• Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship: 5,000 fighters from 100 countries will compete
“This will be my last time in the juvenile division because I will turn 17 soon,” said Alyazyah, who will be competing in the blue belt 61.5 kilogramme division.
“Obviously I want to graduate from this class with a gold medal, which I have not won in two previous attempts. This will be my last chance and then it will get more difficult when I move in to the youth and adult category.”
Alyazyah will vie for a medal in two categories, in the juvenile today and in the Abu Dhabi World Youth Cup on Sunday.
She was forced to pull out of the competition last year after suffering a leg injury on the day before the event.
“So actually I have returned after two years of training,” she said. “I’m training three times in the day – morning, afternoon and night. I have also set up a separate room at home to train.
“I’m also training at my club, Al Wahda, and do some work private training with my former school coach [Roberta Ferreira] to improve my techniques.
“I want to thank the UAEJJF for the support and facilities they have provided on my development and when I train with the junior national team.
“I organise my time. I know this year’s going to be harder and how many girls will be there in my weight category. It can be as many as 20 and not all of them will be Emiratis.”
Alyazyah is going into the competition having won all her fights in the local tournaments.
“I hope I can take the winning formula forward,” she said. “It is important for me to win a gold at this level because thereafter it gets harder in the youth and adult categories,” she said.
“But having said that, I need to work harder and win at the higher levels to be a champion, which is my ambition.”
A Grade 11 pupil of Al Shahama School, Alyazyah wants also to excel in her academics.
“I do my school work well and that’s one of the reasons my parents don’t interfere with my training,” she said.
“Until now I have got good marks at school and when I feel that I need to give more time for studies I cut down on my training time. My objective is to join the diplomatic staff and eventually serve as an ambassador for my country.”
The highlight of the eighth staging of the competition is the adult division with a total prize purse of Dh 2.5 million up for grabs, from April 19 to 23.
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport
