UAE’s best jiu-jitsu grapplers compete for three days at the Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City
Sports action heats up in the UAE capital as the country’s top submission specialists compete for AED 1 million in total prizes at the Jiu-Jitsu President’s Cup kicking off on Friday, 7 April, at the Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City.
Athletes from the country’s top jiu-jitsu clubs and sports academies collide in the cash-rich three-day team event, which will run until Sunday, with competition for boys and girls in the under-14 and under-16 age divisions getting a first crack at the coveted titles on opening day.
Teams to watch out for in the men’s side include Al Ain Club, the under-16 category defending champion, and Baniyas Club, which ruled both the under-18 and adult categories.
The country’s leading women jiu-jitsu practitioners will likewise compete in four divisions: Adults (18 and above), under-18, under-16, and under-14.
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Athletes from Palms Sports Academy Team 777, which secured the women’s under-16 championship, Sharjah Self-Defence Sports Club, which topped the under-18 category, and Baniyas, the adult category champion, are the favourites in the women’s division.
The championships will open on Friday with preliminary competitions for the under-14 and under-16 categories, followed by competitions in the under-18 category on Saturday. The preliminary competitions in the adult category will be on Sunday.
The sport is gaining widespread popularity with the UAE capital hosting major international competitions such as the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship. Jiu-jitsu is also one of the 30 sports events to be contested at the Masters Games Series, which Abu Dhabi will host in 2026.
Date
7-9 April
Location
Mubadala Arena, Zayed Sports City
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