Abu Dhabi:Sheikh Khalifa bin Tahnoon bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court, has attended the opening of the 18th Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship at Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi. The event is held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council.
According to Wam, the championship, running until November 21, features more than 10,000 athletes from 130 countries. Sheikh Khalifa observed amateur division competitions on the opening day and presented awards to several winners, demonstrating the UAE leadership's dedication to jiu-jitsu and its efforts to establish Abu Dhabi as a global jiu-jitsu hub.
In addition, Sheikh Khalifa honored UAE athletes Asma Al Hosani and Hind Alhashmi, winners of the Fatima Bint Mubarak Women Sports Awards. The opening ceremony saw attendance from notable figures including Sheikh Hamdan bin Sultan bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, Director of International Events at the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, and other prominent officials.
The championship, which began in 2009, has grown significantly, becoming a key event on the international jiu-jitsu calendar. Abdulmunem Alsayed Mohamed Alhashmi, Chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, expressed gratitude to the UAE leadership for their support, highlighting the championship's growth and its role in developing young talent.
The event schedule includes amateur and para jiu-jitsu competitions on November 10, youth divisions from November 11-13, the Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Festival from November 14-16, and masters' competitions from November 17-18. Professional competitions will occur from November 19-21, concluding with the Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Awards ceremony on November 22.
