UAE dominate opening day of Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Bahrain

Emiratis grab five of seven golds on offer to take tally to 10 medals in Manama

Emirati Zayed Al Katheeri celebrates after winning gold in the men’s 56-kilogram weight at the sixth Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Bahrain on Monday. Photo: UAEJJF

The UAE bagged five of the seven golds and 10 medals from a possible 14 overall that were on offer on the opening day of the sixth Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Manama, Bahrain.

Faisal Al Ketbi, the UAE team captain, was more than happy to see his younger teammate Saeed Al Qubaisi take gold in the 85kg category in an all Emirati final on Monday.

It was another instance of the most decorated Emirati jiu-jitsu fighter taking it easy on his teammate in a title match of an international competition.

“The objective is always for both fighters to reach the final as the format allows a maximum of two entries in each weight category. And if we are successful to have both in the final, then it doesn’t matter who wins as long as gold is for the UAE,” Al Ketbi told The National.

“Saeed deserves the continental gold more than me. He has worked very hard to reach the final and a deserving winner.

“We had a wonderful first day and with seven more golds on offer on day two, we hope we can add a few more medals to our tally.

“The whole team has done remarkably well so far and it’s all due to the limitless support we get from our federation, the technical assistance from our coaches and the abundance of encouragement from our management staff.”

Balqees Abdulkareem claimed the first gold of the day for the UAE in the women’s 48kg weight with victory over May Yong of Singapore in the final.

Emirati Sharifa Al Namaani and Thai Nutchaya Sugun shared the bronze after losing their respective semi-finals.

Zayed Al Katheeri doubled the gold tally in the men's 56kg defeating Kyrgyzstan's Nursultan Arymatov in the final. Theyab Al Nuaimi added a second bronze for the UAE.

Emirati Bashayer Al Matrooshi had to settle for the bronze behind Thai Nuchanet Singchalad and Jordanian Yasmine Alami, the gold and silver medallists in the women's 57kg.

Mohamed Ali Al Suwaidi grabbed the UAE's third gold by overcoming home favourite Ali Munfaredi of Bahrain in the men's 69kg final. UAE's Faraj Alawlaqi took bronze.

Mariam Al Ameri then rounded off the day for the emirates by taking the women’s over 70kg gold from Kazakh Assel Kabdygalymova.

The remaining gold went to Yara Kakish of Jordan in the women's under 70kg final.