Al Reef School dominates Abu Dhabi National Schools jiu-jitsu Championships for girls

Sheikha Latifa Bint Juma Maktoum, bottom, battled Raghdad Al Erteqqa in the 45 kilo Finals category. Sheikha Maktoum would go on to win the fight. Lee Hoagland / The National

ABU DHABI // The Al Reef School that produced two of the brightest young Emirati female jiu-jitsu medal prospects, Reem Al Falahi and Alyazyah Al Shehyari, is on the summit once again.

The Abu Dhabi school completed a hat trick of jiu-jitsu titles when they emerged winners of the fifth Abu Dhabi National Schools Championships for girls at the Du Forum in Yas Marina.

They topped the medals tally with six gold, two silver and four bronze for their 15-member squad.

“These girls were amazing in training and today they proved they are some of the best emerging young talents in the country,” said Tamara Rocha, the Abu Dhabi school’s Brazilian coach.

“We have over 175 girls in training but a majority of them couldn’t make it to the championship proper as they had to qualify through an internal school competition.

“Nevertheless, it has been an outstanding performance from those who made it to the top flight.”

Rocha took charge of the Al Reef School in January from compatriot Roberta Ferreira, who was promoted to a supervisory role.

Rocha was also in charge of the UAE national girls team on the tour to the United States for the American Kids National Championship in California last October.

Shahad Al Marri, 12, the winner of the grey belt 42.5 kilogram weight division insisted it was a great team effort to win the overall title.

“I am very glad I was also able to contribute to the school’s success along with my teammates,” she said.

“The competition was quite tough as we had to go through a qualifying process and then the three bouts today. I was encouraged and supported by my father and mother and dedicate this medal to them.”

According to Jose Junior, the event manager, a record 35,000 girls and boys from more than 100 schools took part in the

preliminary qualifying rounds in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Gharbia.

“Then we had another six qualifying competitions for those 3,000 girls and 5,000 boys,” he said. “That number was further reduced to 250 (girls) and 650 (boys) respectively for the championships.”

Mahra Al Hanaei, 13, of Al Maali School in Al Ain was one of the stand-out athletes in the championship, winning her two bouts with ease to remain undefeated in the local circuit for four years.

She won her bouts over Fatema Al Falahi, whom she defeated in the final of the Abu Dhabi World Children’s Cup in April, in less than 30 seconds with an arm lock in the orange belt 50.5kg.

“It was quite easy for me after all the hard work over the past five years,” said Mahra, a bronze medallist at the American National Kids Championship.

Sheikha Latifa bint Juma Al Maktoum won gold in the white belt 42.5kg special category. She overcame Raghad Salem Nasser in the final.

On Thursday, more than 650 boys in the age groups from 10 to 15 will be in action at the same venue starting from noon.

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