UAE jiu-jitsu team win 15 medals at Grand Prix Thailand Open

BANGKOK: The UAE Jiu-Jitsu National Team won an impressive 15 medals at the Grand Prix Thailand Open 2024 over the weekend, comprising five gold, three silver and seven bronze.

The event in Bangkok was considered by the team’s management as ideal preparation for other major international events, particularly the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship in Greece in November.

The opening day of the championship was dedicated to the women’s category, where the UAE national team repeated their impressive showing achieved at the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship in Abu Dhabi in May.

Among the winners were Balqees Alhashmi (54 kg) who clinched gold and Aysha Alshamsi (45 kg) silver. Asma Alhosani (52 kg), Shamma Alkalbani (63 kg) and Maitha Shraim (48 kg) secured bronze medals.

“I’m proud to have reached the podium,” said Alhashmi. “Our hard work and intense preparations paid off. We’ll keep training with the same determination, especially for the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship in Greece to maintain our title for the fifth year in a row.”

The male athletes who took to the mats on the second day were equally successful, collectively capturing 10 medals. Khalid Alblooshi (62 kg), Mahdi Alawlaqi (77 kg), Saeed Alkubaisi (85 kg) and Omar Alsuwaidi (56 kg) secured gold on Sunday.

Mayed Alshehhi (62 kg) and Rashed Alshehhi (56 kg) won silver, while Hazza Farhan (over 94 kg), Saeed Alketbi (56 kg), Sultan Alhosani (77 kg), and Mohamed Alsuwaidi (69 kg) took bronze.

“We are thrilled with our performance and proud to win a good number of medals despite the tough competition,” Alblooshi said. “We look forward to keeping up this strong performance, using this experience to continue our physical and mental development.”

Mohamed Salem Al-Dhaheri, vice chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said: “This year’s Grand Prix Thailand Open featured intense competition with many international stars, raising the championship’s overall level. Our national team’s performance was commendable, with athletes reaching the podium in multiple weight categories.

“This success reflects the hard work and tireless efforts of our technical staff in developing the competitors’ skills and the complete commitment of our athletes to perform their best on the mat.

“Competing against the world’s top athletes significantly enhanced our team’s experience, providing valuable insights that will enrich their preparations for upcoming championships. It also highlighted areas for improvement, ensuring that the team emerges stronger and more determined to win future titles.”

Yasser Al-Qubaisi, the team’s administrator, said: “We made sure to include experienced athletes as well as talented fresh faces in the national team, and they have proven their potential. This is part of the UAEJJF’s efforts to expand our roster across various weight categories and boost our competitiveness on the international stage.

“We are confident that these new talents will continue to develop, grow, and gain the experience needed to reach the podium in future competitions.”