UAE tops Day One of AD Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu Tour
Day One hosted the amateur and masters divisions, drawing a large crowd and delivering an electric atmosphere that highlighted the tournament's stature on the global sports stage, as well as the UAE's leading role in advancing jiu-jitsu and promoting its global growth.
At the end of the first day, the UAE emerged at the top of the overall medal standings, followed by Russia in second place and Kazakhstan in third—once again underscoring the excellence and international competitiveness of Emirati athletes.
Yousef Abdullah Al Batran, Board Member of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, emphasized that the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam continues to cement its position as one of the premier global platforms for the sport. He noted that the UAE's continuous efforts are instrumental in the growth and development of jiu-jitsu and in nurturing talented athletes.
Al Batran praised the high technical level seen in the day's matches and expressed pride in the outstanding performances delivered by the Emirati athletes, which reflect their readiness and capability to compete at the highest levels.
Several of the day's winners expressed their happiness with their victories, highlighting the importance of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam as a key milestone in their athletic careers, given the fierce level of competition and exceptional organization.
Russian athlete Timur Abdullah, who won gold in the blue belt 77kg category, said: 'Winning in this tournament feels special due to its strong competition and high-quality organization. I thank the organizers and look forward to more success in the future.'
Emirati champion Mana Al Marzouqi, gold medalist in the 94kg division, also shared his excitement, stating: 'It was an incredible day. I performed in a way that reflects the hard work and preparation I've put in. This event is one of the highlights of my sports journey.'
The championship continues tomorrow with the advanced divisions, where athletes in the brown and black belt categories will compete. Expectations are high for thrilling matches as competitors aim for the podium and seek to add a prestigious title to their careers in one of the world's top jiu-jitsu championships.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Today
a day ago
- Gulf Today
Historic treble for FMAC in 2024–2025 Taekwondo general excellence shields
In an exceptional achievement that reaffirms its leadership in the UAE taekwondo scene, the Fujairah Martial Arts Club (FMAC) clinched three of the most prestigious general excellence shields for the 2024–2025 season—continuing its streak of victories for the seventh consecutive year. This season saw the UAE Taekwondo Federation introduce new categories for the Excellence Shield, including the Men's General Excellence Shield, Women's General Excellence Shield, and the Overall General Excellence Shield. Fujairah Martial Arts Club succeeded in winning all three shields, becoming the first Emirati club in history to claim first place in all categories in a single season—a historic feat that reflects the level of professionalism and dedication within the club. The awards ceremony was graced by the presence of several prominent figures, including Dr. Ahmed Hamdan Al Zeyoudi, President of the UAE Taekwondo Federation, Issa Hilal Al Hazami, Chairman of the Sharjah Sports Council, Khalid Issa Al Midfa, President of Sharjah Sports Club, and Suleiman Al Hajri, President of Sharjah Individual Games Club as well as a number of club presidents and key sports leaders in the country, giving the event a formal and celebratory atmosphere that underscored the significance of this national sporting achievement. Nader Abu Al-Shawish, Director of the Fujairah Martial Arts Club, expressed his pride in this achievement, stating that it reflects the sustainability the club has worked to instill since its inception. He emphasized that the win is a practical embodiment of the vision of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah and President of the Club, to establish Fujairah as a leading platform for sports and excellence at both national and regional levels. 'We believe that success is only achieved through teamwork and collective effort. I extend my gratitude to the technical, administrative, and medical teams—and everyone who contributed to this achievement—for their dedication, commitment, and high competitive spirit throughout the season's events,' he added. With these results, the Fujairah Martial Arts Club continues to paint a bright picture for Emirati sports, remaining a role model in developing champions and nurturing talent. Operating under a fully professional system, the club reinforces sustainability and motivates continued success in upcoming seasons.
Dubai Eye
2 days ago
- Dubai Eye
Laser-focused Gauff ends Boisson's dream run to reach French Open final
Coco Gauff ended local heroine Lois Boisson's dream run at the French Open as the American kept her cool in a fiery atmosphere to earn a ruthless 6-1 6-2 victory on Thursday, setting up a blockbuster final with top seed Aryna Sabalenka. Laser-focused, the world number two subdued the French wild card and the home crowd to speed through the contest on Court Philippe Chatrier and reach the Roland Garros final for the second time after she lost to Iga Swiatek in 2022. Boisson, ranked 361st with only two career matches on the main tour coming into the claycourt major, had downed world number three Jessica Pegula and Russian prodigy Mirra Andreeva in the previous rounds but she looked deflated against Gauff. The 22-year-old will, however, pocket a career-changing 690,000 euros ($789,567) in prize money, while Gauff, 21, will have the chance to secure her second Grand Slam title after winning the 2023 US Open. Playing a local favourite at Roland Garros in front of a notoriously fierce crowd can be a challenge even for the most seasoned players, but Gauff was ready. "This is my first time playing a French player here. I was mentally prepared that it was to be 99% for her so I was trying to block it out," said Gauff. Addressing the crowd, she added: "When you were saying her name, I was saying my name to myself just to psyche myself." EXTRA SHOT Gauff, who can become the first American since Serena Williams in 2015 to lift the Suzanne Lenglen Cup, clearly shifted up a gear after beating compatriot Madison Keys in an error-strewn quarter-final on Wednesday. Her forehand was solid again, her backhand mesmerising at times and she served consistently throughout. Boisson, on the other hand, made an unusual number of unforced errors as her opponent repeatedly forced her to go for the extra shot. Gauff raced to a 4-0 lead under the Court Philippe Chatrier roof and never looked back, breaking to love at 3-2 in the second set right after Boisson broke her serve for the first time. The American was on an eight-point winning streak and at the change of ends at 5-2, Boisson placed her towel over her head and hit herself in frustration. "It's always the plan to start strong," said Gauff. "I knew it was important today. She's an incredible player, she proved to be one of the best players in the world, especially on clay. I'm sure we'll have more battles in the future." DIRECT ENTRY The first Frenchwoman to reach the last four at Roland Garros since Marion Bartoli in 2011, Boisson bowed out when she sent yet another forehand long. She will climb up to 65th in the WTA rankings, which will all but guarantee her direct entry into the main draw at Grand Slams and top-tier events. Boisson has her feet firmly on the ground, though. "Of course the programme will change. It won't be what was planned at the beginning, considering my upcoming ranking," she told a press conference. "But, for the time being, I'm not going to make any particular changes because I think that if I'm here today it's because it works well and I don't see why I would change much. "Today it was quite simply too tough for me. I couldn't manage to get my game going, but apart from today's match, which wasn't all positive, the tournament as a whole was very positive."
Gulf Today
2 days ago
- Gulf Today
Grebnev wins 25th Dubai Open Chess title
After a month of non-stop competition - playing one tournament after another across three cities in the UAE with little rest in between - teenage Grandmaster (GM) Aleksey Grebnev finally hit his stride in Dubai. Needing only a draw to secure the title, the 18-year-old Russian stayed composed despite an opening surprise by his opponent to calmly collect the half point he needed to clinch the championship in the 25th Dubai Open Chess Tournament on Wednesday at the Dubai Chess and Culture Club. Grebnev drew his final-round game against GM Shant Sargsyan of Armenia to finish with seven points in the nine-round tournament on account of five wins, four draws, and no losses. While he has won the Asian Junior Championship twice in 2023 and 2024 and was the 2023 U18 World Youth champion, Grebnev considers the Dubai Open as the biggest win in his young career. 'I am very pleased that I managed to show a good performance and win the tournament,' said Grebnev after the title-clinching draw. 'This is my first time winning a tournament of this level.' Playing white against Sargsyan, Grebnev said he was surprised to see the Caro-Kann defense on the board, which he countered with the Two Knights' Attack. 'Before the game, I decided that I had to play hard (despite needing only a draw to win the tournament),' he said. 'My opponent surprised me in the opening by defending with the Caro-Kann, but I responded well and the position quickly equalised and he offered a draw.' The Dubai Open was Grebnev's fourth tournament in a row - and third successive event within a month in the UAE. He played at the Asian Men's Championship in Al Ain and the Sharjah Masters last month with uninspiring results, but Dubai proved to be the turning point. 'I feel tired,' he said of playing high-pressure games almost every day for a month. 'But I'm very happy with the results of the tournament.' To celebrate, Grebnev said he plans to explore some of Dubai's must-visit spots with his mother Helena, who accompanied him during the Dubai leg of his four-week campaign in the UAE. 'I just want to take a break from the tension,' he said. 'This is my first time in Dubai and I was planning to go to the Dubai Mall tomorrow. After Dubai, I plan to rest for a week and then I'll play in the Higher League of the Russian Championship.' GM Alan Pichot of Spain also finished the tournament with seven points after defeating Iranian prodigy GM Sina Movahed, but settled for second place with an inferior tiebreak score, which calculated the average rating of a player's opponents. Russia's GM Ivan Zemlyanskii, who defeated Vietnam's IM Pham Tran Gia Phuc, Sargsyan, and GM Aleksandar Indjic of Serbia, who won over India's GM Bharath Subramaniyam, scored 6.5 points each and finished third to fifth, respectively.
