Abu Dhabi: Members of the victorious UAE U-18 jiu-jitsu team which won four gold medals, a silver and a bronze at the JJIF World Junior Championship in Athens, received a rousing reception on their arrival at the Abu Dhabi International Airport.
Hamad Mohammad Nawad, Khalid Al Baloushi, Khalifa Al Baloushi and Ahmad Al Rejaibi all claimed gold while Hussain
Al Yafie and Ahmad Al Baloushi pocketed a silver and bronze, respectively.
This was the third tournament abroad that the youngsters participated in after pocketing 45 medals at American Jiu-Jitsu Open Championship including 15 gold, 17 silver and 13 bronze. In the European Junior Championship in Portugal, they won 15 medals including two gold, five silvers and eight bronze.
Nawad needed three fights to clinch the title in the 46-kg weight division. He defeated Alexandre Vostikikov of Russia in the opener, then Emmanouil Mparmperies of Greece before getting the better of another Russian Evgeny Knyazev in the final.
In the 60kg category, Khalid Al Baloushi outclassed Jakub Binek of Poland, Guiseppe Pusateri of Italy and Germany’s Severin Lindner in the final. Khalifa Al Baloushi’s success in the 55 kg category came after he defeated Antonios Spiridakis of Greece before registering victories over Russian Maxim Machikhin and Polish pair Kamil Bordo and Mateursz Osiak.
Al Rejaibi had to battle it out against teammate Al Yafei to strike gold in the 60kg category after sealing wins against Mohammad Boulfihim of Belgium and Mateusz Flasz of Poland in the 60kgs.
The tournament, however, belonged to the Russians who finished at the top of the medals tally with 16 gold, 12 silver and 18 bronze followed by Belgium and Germany. The UAE finished sixth overall in the tournament that drew participants from 25 countries at the Olympic Centre Falirou.
Abdul Moneim Al Hashemi, head of Jiu-Jitsu Federation was all praise for his wards and also thanked His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces for his support in the development of the sport.
“Preparation for the tournament was great and all credit to them for the success. The competition was tough but the boys have been preparing for the tournament and we have provided them the best facilities and training. This success will be a huge boost in future tournaments,” said Al Hashemi.