Zayed Alkatheeri Triumphs Again At Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship

Zayed Alkatheeri triumphed in the Men’s Gi Black Belt Professional 62 kg final, securing his second gold at the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship. He defeated Anderson Duarte with a precise performance, showcasing technical control throughout the match. The contest extended to a golden score, where Alkatheeri earned two decisive points, including one for a takedown attempt, ensuring his victory.

His win was celebrated in front of an enthusiastic crowd at Mubadala Arena during the championship's final day. This event was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council. Commando Group topped the overall professional division standings, followed by M.O.D UAE in second place and Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club in third.

Mohamed Salem Al Dhaheri, Vice Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation and Chairman of the Championship Organising Committee, expressed gratitude to the UAE leadership for their unwavering support for sports and athletes. He highlighted that Abu Dhabi has once again demonstrated its status as the world capital of jiu-jitsu by hosting top athletes in a vibrant atmosphere.

Al Dhaheri stated: "Abu Dhabi is experiencing a special moment today, showing once again why it is the world capital of jiu-jitsu. We welcomed some of the best athletes in the world in a very energetic atmosphere. The championship achieved all its goals, including unprecedented participation numbers, high technical levels, great crowd attendance and wide media coverage. This success is the result of our leadership’s vision and its support, which continues to make a strong impact on the growth of UAE sports."

Emirati athlete Zayed Alkatheeri dedicated his victory to his supporters and expressed gratitude towards his family and coaching team. He acknowledged that competing against Anderson Duarte was challenging but credited fan support and coaching for boosting his confidence during crucial moments.

Alkatheeri remarked: "I dedicate this achievement to our leadership, to my family, to the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation and to everyone who has supported me throughout my sporting journey. The competition against Anderson Duarte was not easy, but the support of the fans in the stands and the continuous work with the coaching team gave me great confidence in key moments."

Championship Highlights

The championship's final day featured 12 professional finals across Men’s Black Belt and Women’s Brown/Black Belt divisions. Athletes from 12 countries participated, including those from Brazil, Switzerland, Croatia, Spain, Japan, Hungary, Canada, Russia, Germany and Portugal.

The programme included seven men’s black belt finals and five women’s brown/black belt finals. This diverse participation showcased high technical levels and drew significant crowd attendance.

The Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Awards will take place tomorrow to honour top achievers among athletes and academies for this season.

With inputs from WAM