ABU DHABI 26 November 2016: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces called UAE National Team’s star fighter Faisal Al Ketbi for winning the gold medal in under 94kg category at the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Bogota, Colombia.
He competed against 13 international players. The Championship, organized by the International Jiu-Jitsu Federation, began on 23 November and will continue until 27 November.
The UAE National Team is represented by four players of different weight categories in the championship. The UAE delegation comprises Faisal Al Ketbi, under 94kg; Obaid Al Nuaimi, under 56kg; Saeed Al Mazrouei, under 62kg and Saood Al Hammadi, under 77kg. They are accompanied by Youssef Al Balooshi, Director of the Technical Department at the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF), who is heading the delegation and Ramon Limos De Souza, the Head of Coaches at UAEJJF.
The National Team has been aiming for titles and exerted significant efforts to rank high at the Championship to boost the UAE’s position in international sports events. They are working hard to strengthen Abu Dhabi’s name as the first city in the world to launch a professional project that nurtures Jiu-Jitsu champions.
Abdulmoneim Al Sayed Al Hashemi, President of UAEJJF, the Asian Jiu-Jitsu Federation and First Deputy President of the International Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said: “Raising the UAE flag high in international events is one of the most important objectives of Jiu-Jitsu. Al Ketbi has proven that he can take on the responsibility of representing our nation in international sports platforms, for he has demonstrated the sufficient skills, potential and caliber to accomplish this achievement.
“We are ever so grateful for this milestone, and we congratulate the whole of UAE for having made its imprint in this international championship. Our National Team’s participation in this event is a continuation of the series of outstanding achievements the players have been able to accomplish in previous international events,” said Youssef Al Blooshi.
He added: “The championship witnessed high level technical skills as the participants n topped the rankings of the International Jiu-Jitsu Federation and its championships. More than 35 national teams took part in this championship from all over the world, however, Faisal proved his competency and ability to undertake this challenge. He played smartly and demonstrated the new techniques taught to him by Coach Ramos Limas.”
It is noteworthy, that the general assembly of the International Jiu-Jitsu Federation is set to take place right after the Championship concludes, where Faisal Al Ketbi will represent the UAE National Team’s players committee.
The UAE National Team’s star fighter Faisal Al Ketbi has won multiple medals internationally during the current season, 2017 – 18. He has won a gold and a silver medal at the Olympic games in Poland, in addition to two gold medals and a silver medal at the 2nd Asian Championship in Hanoi, Vietnam; and two gold medals in the Asian Indoor Games in Turkmenistan; adding another gold medal at Colombia to his portfolio of achievements.
The UAE National Team will conclude its participation in the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship today, as Obaid Al Nuaimi will compete in the under 56kg category with eight other players. Saeed Al Mazrouei will compete in the under 62kg category with 14 other players and Saood Al Hammadi will compete in the under 77kg category with 19 other players. Meanwhile, Al Ketbi will play once more on Monday, 27 November in the free weight category.