It’s raining medals for UAE at World Professional Jiu Jitsu Championship

The UAE returned with a rich medal haul of 30 gold, 35 silver and 42 bronze medals for a total of 107 medals on Tuesday.

Russian Imam Atakishiev of Abu Dhabi Top Team beat Kazak Aldiyar Serik of Kazakhstan National Team in the Male White Infant 38.5kg. Osaf Abdulov, also of Abu Dhabi Top Team, and Slovak Michael Carnogursky of Team Nogueira Dubai, won the bronze

Abu Dhabi — After the girls lit up the first day of the World Children’s Cup in the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu Jitsu Championship, it was the turn of the boys to be, well boys. Around 924 boys took to the mat at the IPIC Arena on Tuesday across 54 divisions and the UAE returned with a rich medal haul of 30 gold, 35 silver and 42 bronze medals for a total of 107 medals on the day.

It meant that the Emirati boys and girls have so far logged 272 medals over the two days. The Emirati girls had won 37 gold, 42 silver and 57 bronze medals, also for a total of 136, on Monday, the opening day of the Championship. And 12-year-old Mahdi Khaled Alawlaqi made it a triple by winning gold in the Male Yellow Junior 54.5kg category. Mahdi won the gold in the white and grey belt segments in 2012 and 2013, beat Hamdan Mohamed Haidara of Al Jazira Jiu Jitsu Club.

And the trainee of Bani Yas Jiu Jitsu Club was pleased to complete a hat trick. “I’m so, so happy to win my third medal in the Championship,” said Mahdi.

And the boy was thankful for the support provided by his parents, especially his father, who watched him from the stands. “My dad has always been very supportive and stood by me. He was here today and cheered me on. I’m really delighted to win it for him and I’m sure he will be so proud about me,” added Khalid, who is aspiring to become a Jiu Jitsu coach.

Nahyan Abdulla Al Darmaki of Al Tafawwoq won his first gold, winning in the Male White Junior 38.5kg category, beating compatriot Nawaf Hasan Al Hammadi of Al Ghazali. “It is my first gold in the Championship and I’m so happy that I could do it,” said the 13-year-old.

Al Khalifa Kaabi overcame a tough field to win the gold in the Male White Infant 42.5kg category. Al Kaabi, from Al Maqam School, beat Sanderson Alexandre Graca from Angola. Kareem Ahmad Hanandeh of Team Mirza from Jordan won the bronze.

In the Male White Infant over 62.5kg, Mubarak Salem Qubaisi of Abdul Jaleel Al Faheem, defeated Palestine’s Ahmad Abd Taha, who trains at Ajman Jiu Jitsu Club, to win gold. The UAE’s Humaid Ali Sukri of Abu Krayyah was third. Great Britain had three medals, one gold and two silver with the Bougoffa brothers winning gold and silver.

Omar El Bougoffa of Roger Gracie Academy, won the gold in the Male Yellow Infant 30.5kg. Omar beat Russia’s Mansur Kasaev of Ajman Jiu Jitsu Club. The UAE’s Saud Abdulla Al Hosani won the bronze.

Hamza Seif Bougoffa, also of Roger Gracie Academy, took silver in the Male Orange Green Junior 46.5kg. Hamza had lost to Italo Kristiano Junior of Martial Arts Garra Office. Felipe Jorge Oliveira of Gracie Barra Angola was third. Brandon Tutton of Sas Team Dubai won the silver in the Male Yellow Junior 50.5kg segment. Tutton lost out to the UAE’s Khalifa Ahmed Al Hammadi of Al Ghazali. But there were a few categories which were won by expats, especially in the Male Orange Green Junior 46.5 kg and the Male White Infant 38.5kg categories.

Russian Imam Atakishiev of Abu Dhabi Top Team beat Kazak Aldiyar Serik of Kazakhstan National Team in the Male White Infant 38.5kg. Osaf Abdulov, also of Abu Dhabi Top Team, and Slovak Michael Carnogursky of Team Nogueira Dubai, won the bronze.