The fifth round of the third edition of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship (Gi division) concluded on Sunday at Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi, with competitions for the U-12, U-14 and U-16 divisions. The event brought together athletes from top clubs and academies across the UAE and saw Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club finish first in the overall standings, followed by Palms Sports — TEAM 777 in second place and Al-Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club in third.
Young Athletes Shine on Final Day
The final day featured the youngest age groups in the championship, with the young athletes demonstrating the progress they had made through the development programs at their clubs and academies. Mansour Mohammed Al-Dhaheri, board member of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said: “The U-12, U-14 and U-16 competitions reflect the continued growth of jiu-jitsu in the UAE. These age groups represent the starting point for developing athletes and helping them build discipline and responsibility.”
Assessing Progress and Building Discipline
Al-Dhaheri added: “The championship also allows the federation and clubs to assess athletes’ progress, evaluate their performance and identify areas for further development. Developing athletes at these ages requires a long-term approach, and progress is measured by continuous improvement and the experience gained from one competition to the next. Families are an important part of this process, and the strong attendance of parents throughout the championship reflects growing awareness of the role sport plays in developing young people.”
Gold Medalist Shares Experience
Mariam Rashid Mohammed of Baniyas Club, who won the gold medal in the U-14 57-kg division, said: “I learned something from every match and took another step forward in improving my performance. I look forward to continuing my training and achieving good results in future championships as well.”
