AJP Tour tournament begins on Friday at Mubadala Arena ABU DHABI: The AJP Tour UAE National Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2023 is set to kick off on Friday, July 7, at the Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi. For the latest updates, follow us on Twitter @ArabNewsSport Organized by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, or UAEJJF, in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Pro, or AJP, the event will bring together hundreds of athletes from clubs and academies across different divisions — from infants to teens to amateurs, professionals and masters. Day 1 of the championship, scheduled from July 7-9, will feature competitions in the Kids, Infant and Junior categories. On the second day, the Youth, Teen and Masters divisions will take center stage, while the third and final day will witness matches between Amateurs and Professionals. Youssef Abdullah Al-Batran, board member of the UAEJJF, emphasized the importance of the UAE national jiu-jitsu championship within the federation’s agenda. “The AJP Tour UAE National Jiu-Jitsu Championship holds a prominent position in the federation’s agenda and is eagerly anticipated by both fans and athletes,” he said. “The tournament aligns with the federation’s plans and vision to identify promising talents in the youth categories, who are the foundation for the sport’s future development.” “The championship provides an ideal platform that attracts some of the world’s best athletes, particularly those holding purple, brown and black belts. They are eager to showcase their skills, and it serves as excellent preparation for upcoming international events, including the highly anticipated 15th edition of the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship scheduled for November.” Al-Batran recognized the influential role of families in motivating their sons and daughters to participate in sports. He encouraged them to take advantage of the federation’s plans, programs and tournaments, which contribute to developing players’ talents and preparing them effectively for their professional journey. Rodrigo Valerio, operations director at the AJP, said: “The AJP UAE National Jiu-Jitsu Championship is crucial for the players competing in the AJP Tour Rank as it awards the first-place winners with 1,000 points, giving them the opportunity to rise in the ranking.” “The second-place holder will receive 800 points, while the third-place holder will be awarded 600 points. This offers a great incentive for more and more athletes to participate in as many events as possible, as those with the highest rankings from each country will have the opportunity to be invited to compete at the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship. This will give them an advantage in the bracket. Moreover, the players with the highest rankings following the ADWPJJC will receive the best player award in their respective category or continent at the Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Awards.” Bernardo Morais, a prominent Brazilian competitor from the Emirates Jiu-Jitsu Club participating in the 62 kg Professional category, expressed his excitement about the tournament. “The tournament arrives at a crucial phase of the sports season, enabling us to assess our preparations for competing in the most challenging competitions in the final quarter,” he said. “The UAE National Championship will bring together a cohort of professional athletes, providing us with the opportunity to interact and gain valuable experience in developing our technical and physical prowess.”