UAE Champions Achieve Total Of 10 Medals At Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu Tour In London

The Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu Tour's second day in London wrapped up at the Copper Box Arena. Over 700 athletes from various nations participated in the Youth and Masters categories. The event attracted a large audience who enjoyed the high-level matches. UAE athletes excelled, adding seven more medals—five gold and two silver—to their tally, bringing their total to ten medals in this leg.

Gold medal winners included Salem Al Qubaisi and Ahmed Saeed Al Shamsi from Al Ain Club, Abdullah Andeaz and Al Anood Al Hameli from Al Jazira Club, and Abdullah Al Aqidi from Al Wahda Club. Haroon Khouri from ADMA Academy and Ahmed Al Rashdi from Al Jazira Club secured silver medals for the UAE team.

Tareq Al Bahri, General Manager of Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro (AJP), highlighted that this year's London event saw the highest participation since the tour began. He commended the technical quality of matches, enthusiastic spectators, and professional organisation. The event featured extensive TV coverage with 12 cameras and significant media presence both locally and internationally.

Al Bahri mentioned ongoing communication with Abdulmunem Al Hashmi, President of the UAE and Asian Jiu-Jitsu Federations. They ensured top standards in organisation, refereeing, technical execution, and media coverage were maintained throughout the championship.

Efforts are underway to enhance the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam each year by possibly increasing tour stops or updating rules to improve audience engagement. Registration is now open for the 2024–2025 season finale in Abu Dhabi scheduled for mid-May. Due to growing interest from clubs worldwide, extending the event from three to four days is under consideration.

Since its inception in 2015, the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu Tour has become a leading global professional jiu-jitsu championship. Organised by AJP, it aims to spread jiu-jitsu worldwide while providing a platform for talent discovery and development.

Global Reach of the Championship

The tour includes stops in major cities like Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro, Miami, Rome, Sydney, Beijing, Istanbul, and culminates with a final event in Abu Dhabi each season. The results contribute to AJP’s annual rankings and offer a platform for skill development through international exposure.

The championship provides valuable prize money alongside elite-level organisation that meets global standards. This makes it an essential event for athletes seeking international experience and recognition within the sport.

With inputs from WAM