The UAE underlined its reputation as the top jiu-jitsu nation in Asia after claiming two golds and two silvers on the opening day of the inaugural Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on Friday.
Yahia Mansour Al Hammadi overcame Iranian Hassan Zadeh 4-0 to win his third gold at a continental championship in the over-94-kilogram weight.
He won double gold at both the Asian Beach Games in Vietnam and the inaugural Asian Beach Championship in Sri Lanka, winning both his weight and the absolute division.
Faisal Al Ketbi, who conceded walkovers to Al Hammadi in Vietnam and Sri Lanka after reaching the final, forfeited the 94kg-weight final to his teammate Zayed Al Kaabi in Ashgabat.
“Our strategy in the weight division where we had two entries was for both to reach the final,” Al Ketbi said.
“We achieved that and thereafter it didn’t matter who wins the gold because it’s one and two for the UAE.”
Each participating country can enter two in each weight category and the absolute division. The UAE has nine entries with two each in the 69kg, 85kg and 94kg.
Al Ketbi has never lost to either Al Hammadi or Al Kaabi in a contest but was too modest to hold that achievement over either of them.
“They work as hard as I do and they deserve all the credit as much as I do on their achievements,” Al Ketbi said of his long-time teammates.
Mohammed Al Qubaisi won the other silver in the 77kg. The UAE are hoping to add to their tally, with the objective to top the medals table in the men’s division as they did in both Vietnam and Sri Lanka.
With five more gold medals up for grabs on the second day, Abdulmunam Al Hashmi, chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said the success they have had was due to the grassroot development programmes.
“We are reaching the 100,000 mark on those who are actively practicing jiu-jitsu in the country,” he said.
“With this kind of numbers, it’s not surprising the UAE national team’s achievements. We can only get better but there are also a host of countries that are fast emerging as powerhouses in the sport.”
The inaugural Asian Championship has drawn 24 countries vying for nine gold medals in the men’s category and eight in the women’s event.
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
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Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
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The Land between Two Rivers: Writing in an Age of Refugees
Tom Sleigh, Graywolf Press
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Nick's journey in numbers
Countries so far: 85
Flights: 149
Steps: 3.78 million
Calories: 220,000
Floors climbed: 2,000
Donations: GPB37,300
Prostate checks: 5
Blisters: 15
Bumps on the head: 2
Dog bites: 1
England's all-time record goalscorers:
Wayne Rooney 53
Bobby Charlton 49
Gary Lineker 48
Jimmy Greaves 44
Michael Owen 40
Tom Finney 30
Nat Lofthouse 30
Alan Shearer 30
Viv Woodward 29
Frank Lampard 29
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
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The Transfiguration
Director: Michael O’Shea
Starring: Eric Ruffin, Chloe Levine
Three stars
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Switching%20sides
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