First round of the competition will take place at Zayed Sports City’s Mubadala Arena from June 28-30 ABU DHABI: The UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation has announced that 3,000 athletes will compete in the first round of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship at Zayed Sports City’s Mubadala Arena from June 28 to 30. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport The three-day event marks the beginning of the five-round championship. It will include competitions in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Fujairah throughout 2024, featuring categories for kids, youth, adults and masters. Three rounds will be for the Gi category, while two rounds will be for the no-Gi category. With registration closed for the first round, an unprecedented 3,000 athletes aged 4 to 30 from various clubs and academies are set to compete in different belt and weight categories. Athletes will vie for medals and cash prizes totaling over $408,000, culminating in the final round in December. A ranking system is in place to recognize athletes and clubs based on their performances in all rounds of the championship. “The launch of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship represents a significant step in cementing the UAE’s leadership in promoting and developing the jiu-jitsu sport,” said Mohamed Salem Al-Dhaheri, vice chairman of the UAEJJF. He said the competition “marks a new chapter” in the federation’s cooperation with partners and sponsors, which will help grow the sport further. “The championship, bearing a name dear to our hearts, motivates athletes and encourages them to strive for excellence in training, ensuring the presence of successive generations of champions who can raise the UAE flag in international forums.” On Friday, the event will feature males and females in the under-18, adult and masters’ categories. The second day will be for kids, and girls under the ages of 12, 14 and 16. The competition concludes on Sunday with boys under the ages of 12, 14 and 16 competing. Mahmoud Al-Sayed, director of the Jiu-Jitsu Academy at Al-Wahda Club, said: “The importance of this championship lies in its role in uncovering and refining talents. It enhances competition between local clubs and academies by bringing together multiple groups, from kids to youth, masters and professionals, celebrating the sport’s spirit.” Haneen Alkhoori of Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club, who competes in the under-16, 57 kg category, said: “I am excited to participate in the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship, as it is an ideal opportunity to test my abilities against the elite athletes in the country. “I feel optimistic and confident that I will give a strong performance, no matter the challenge. I thank the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation for continuously organizing major championships and adding new ones, providing us with a season full of events and broader opportunities for development and growth.”