Emirati boys take their turn to shine at IPIC Arena in jiu-jitsu Children’s Cup

Sulaiman Saeed Alhanaee, 11, covers Alec Turowski, 11, at the Abu Dhabi World Children’s Cup 2015. Silvia Razgova / The National

ABU DHABI // Day 2 of the World Jiu-Jitsu Children’s Cup 2015 saw 924 young players from 30 countries battle it out for medals, with the majority once again representing the UAE.

The opening day had brought 37 gold, 42 silver and 57 bronze medals for the young Emirati female fighters.

On Tuesday, the boys were fighting across a mammoth 54 categories and, once again, local fighters of all ages dominated: Emiratis won 36 golds, 37 silver and 63 bronze.

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Khaled Nasser Al Otaiba, 11, was one winner, claiming gold in the 34.5-kilogram grey-belt category.

“It was a little easy. I think I won 5-0,” he said. “I don’t train in a club. I train at home with my brother, Nayef.”

It is a sign of how widespread jiu-jitsu participation has become at schools across the Emirates that his elder brother, also a grey belt, won gold in the 42.5kg class.

But the day was not all about Emirati players. More than 200 children travelled to Abu Dhabi from as far away as Brazil, Europe and the Middle East to compete in the Children’s Cup.

Karim Hanandeh, competing in the 42.5kg white-belt category, flew in from Jordan and at age 9 is one of the youngest players in the competition.

“We heard about this event through the gym were he goes training,” his mother, Ruba, said. “His coach recommended that he join this tournament in Abu Dhabi. I Googled it and read about it. I saw it was a big, big tournament, so we decided to bring him here.”

Mother and son had arrived at IPIC Arena at Zayed Sports City at 9am, and though it was a long day for the young player, it was certainly a positive one.

“I was amazed, actually,” Ruba said. “From the time we arrived at the airport everything went well. People were very helpful, everything was well organised.”

It was a mixed day for Karim on the mats, but he ended with a bronze medal. His mother said it was a fair reflection and that the experience will only inspire her son, who already trains three times a week, to improve his skills.

“I found that the people he fought with were very highly qualified,” she said.

“I guess he did very well. He got third place. But the two who got first and second really deserved it.”

Hamzeh Rasheed, coach for Karim’s Team Mizra, will be looking after 18 fighters in today’s older age-group categories.

Yesterday, he managed to give everyone in the Jordanian contingent his full attention.

Now that he has tasted the competition, will Karim return to Abu Dhabi in the future?

“Of course, definitely,” his mother said.

“The coach and I had a conversation. We know now where the strengths are and where the weaknesses are and we have to work on them. For sure, this is his first time, but, inshallah, there will be more to come.”

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