UAE jiu-jitsu team set to compete in World Games

The UAE national jiu-jitsu team has arrived in Birmingham, Alabama, for the World Games 2022, the international multi-sports event held every four years.

The team will start a light training regime tomorrow in preparation for the competition on July 15.

Considered a global showpiece for sports yet to be included in the Olympic Games, the 11th edition of the World Games will run until July 17 in the USA. It will feature approximately 3,600 participants from 100 nations competing across more than 30 sports.

The squad of five athletes from the UAE is hoping to build on a landmark performance at the 2017 Games in Warsaw, Poland. The UAE’s Faisal Al Ketbi captured the gold medal in the under-94kg category and this year he's hoping to achieve gold in the 85kg category

He will be joined by compatriots Muhammad Al Amri (77kg), Muhammad Al Suwaidi (69kg), Shamma Al Kalbani (63kg) and Balqees Abdelkareem (48 kg).

Ramon Lemos, head coach of the UAE team, said, "Our early arrival here and the establishment of our overseas training camp is all part of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation's plan for maintaining the players' readiness and concentration in the lead-up to the competition.

"The Federation and the technical staff have complete faith in the national team's players. Each has the skills necessary to outperform the finest players from across the world. Helping our athletes maintain optimum energy and a balanced state of mind so they can perform at their best is arguably our top priority. It’s certainly the biggest goal of our technical staff."

Lemos continued by saying that the participation of 5 members of the national team is indicative of the level of advancement that jiu-jitsu has seen in the UAE. "Entry into the competition is based on a specific process and a qualifying round that considers the players' accomplishments, ranking, and predetermined weight categories. Only 96 players from all over the world have qualified to compete in jiu-jitsu at the World Games, which demonstrates the tournament's quality."

#UAE national jiu-jitsu team to compete in World Games 2022 in Alabama #WamNews https://t.co/NUkwq8wSOz pic.twitter.com/2NaocT5ozW

— WAM English (@WAMNEWS_ENG) July 13, 2022