Abu Dhabi:’Mother of the Nation Jiu-Jitsu Cup’ kicks off on Friday

Abu Dhabi, The Gulf Observer: The annual Mother of the Nation Cup begins on Friday with the participation of hundreds of players from different clubs and academies in the UAE.

The event, seen as the perfect opportunity for the athletes to make themselves ready for upcoming regional and international contests, will kick off with the Kids Festival on Friday, followed by competitions for Adult, Under-18, and Under-16 divisions on Saturday and Sunday.

A host of top-ranked athletes and members of the national team are slated to compete during the three-day jiu-jitsu action, which will take place at the Jiu-Jitsu Arena in Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi. More than 400 male and female players are expected to attend the Kids Festival, which is open to budding champions from all nationalities between the ages of 4 and 13.

Meanwhile, the Mother of the Nation Cup serves as a crucial opportunity for the women players to enhance their readiness for upcoming competitions, especially the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship. The elimination rounds will be held on Saturday while the finals will be held on Sunday.

Youssef Al Batran, Board Member of the UAEJJF, said, “The Mother of the Nation Jiu-Jitsu Cup is the perfect venue for highlighting the rising female athletes in the UAE. Since its start a few years ago, the tournament has offered an ideal environment for identifying and nurturing female talent, improving their skills to compete at the highest levels both locally and abroad, and enhancing the position of the UAE in a number of sporting forums.”

For his part, Hisham Hammoud, CEO of Aafaq Islamic Finance, said, “The UAEJJF has been playing a significant role in the growth of jiu-jitsu both in the UAE and across the world. It is an honour for us to collaborate with them to uphold excellence and help players achieve the best results at the local, regional, and global levels.”

In turn, Dr. Ghanem Ali Al Hassani, Director of Academic Affairs at Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), said, “Our participation in the event further demonstrates our commitment to supporting the Abu Dhabi government’s vision to promote a healthier and balanced lifestyle among the society. We are pleased to see the promising talents in the country and their advanced skills.”