Santos to go global after jiu-jitsu double gold in Abu Dhabi

Jessica Cristina Santos has set herself two targets in jiu-jitsu: to win gold medals at the Abu Dhabi World Professional Championships and the World Championships.

Jessica Cristina Santos, a black belt, took two gold medals in the Jiu Jitsu Abu Dhabi Open Cup on January 24. Delores Johnson/The National

The Brazilian, 23, seems to be closing on her goals with another splendid performance in her second local competition, winning a double gold at the Abu Dhabi Open last night at the FGB Arena at the Zayed Sports City.

Santos won both the finals from her compatriot Marina Ribeiro in the 65-kilogram weight class and the Open division to follow up on her double gold in Al Ain last October.

“It is a real great feeling to win a double gold second time in two local competitions,” she said after winning both finals 4-0, earned through a mounted lock.

“The fights are never easy. I scored early and managed to preserve the lead until the end. Both fights were close, and it panned out to be identical against the same opponent.”

Santos travelled from Brazil for the Abu Dhabi World Professional Championships in the past three years and was offered a job as an instructor with Palms Sports, the technical arm of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF), last year.

She won bronze medals in her weight division in the first two visits to the capital but failed to get into the medal round last year.

“Hopefully I can do it this time,” said Santos. “The two biggest objectives for me in the sport are to win gold at Abu Dhabi and California.

“I am training with those objectives in mind. I am happy with my work and current form. Obviously the competition at the world championships will be much harder, but I am ready for the challenge.”

The Abu Dhabi World Professional Championship is slated for April and the World Championships in California in July.

The men’s black-belt division was dominated by Brazilians, with Marcos Paulo Costa taking the gold in the Open category from compatriot Celso Junior, the winner of the 95kg-plus category.

Costa had to settle for the bronze in his 85kg weight class behind Rene Azevedo, who got the better of the UAE national team coach Maico Reiter in the final. Nilson Braga bagged the gold in the 95kg with victory over Kalil Pinto.

Another potential star in the making is Anatolii Smyrskyi, the Dubai-based Ukrainian who works as a personal trainer.

He returned with four gold medals in two days of work, following up his double gold in the No Gi competition with two more in his 95kg weight and the Open division.

Smyrskyi, 30, transferred his judo experience to jiu-jitsu and, combined with his fitness regime, has in 10 months won a remarkable seven golds, three silvers and two bronze medals in four competitions in Dubai, Al Ain, Ras Al Khaimah and Abu Dhabi.

“I’m looking forward to the Abu Dhabi World Pro,” he said. “The success I have had is a combination of the technique and fitness.

“I have been practising judo back home in Ukraine since I was 11, and it has helped me in my new-found passion – jiu-jitsu.”

Ahmed Mohammed Al Dhaheri won the UAE’s solitary gold from the 47 that were up for grabs.

The Emirati overcame Jordanian Abdelrahman Aliess in the white belt 85kg final for the hosts to finish on one gold, six silver and eight bronze.

The 18-member Japanese contingent that arrived on the invitation of the UAEJJF returned with four golds, four silvers and three bronze medals.

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