Over 350 athletes from 24 countries will take part in the tournament on Saturday, Aug. 24 ABU DHABI: The UAE Jiu-Jitsu National Team, sponsored by Mubadala Investment Co., are set to compete at the World Jiu-Jitsu Cup 2024 on Aug. 24 in Zadar, Croatia. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Organized by the Jiu-Jitsu International Federation, the championship will include over 350 athletes from 24 countries, competing across various age groups and weight divisions. The UAE team, consisting of 21 athletes, departed for Croatia on Thursday morning. The World Jiu-Jitsu Cup marks the team’s fourth international appearance this year. Previously, the Emirati athletes successfully defended their title at the eighth edition of the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship for the fourth consecutive year. They also showcased their skills at the Grand Prix Thailand Open 2024, and delivered a strong performance at the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Union Regional Championship West Asia in Jordan. Mubarak Al-Menhali, director of the technical department at the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said the team’s participation is part of “constant efforts to assert our dominance in continental and international competitions. It also helps us prepare for upcoming events and strengthens our leadership in this sport.” He added: “This aligns with the federation’s strategy to focus on youth development, supporting and enhancing their skills. We are confident that team members are fully committed and prepared to face tough competitions and honor (the) UAE’s name on (the) world stage.” Pedro Damasceno, coach of the UAE’s under-18 team, added that the competition would “provide insight into our current standing and help us prepare for the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship in Greece, which will be the toughest championship for the team this year.” He said four coaches would accompany the team. “We appreciate the support from the federation members and organizers, who have been instrumental in our preparations. “We hope to see strong performances from our fighters and are eager to put everything we’ve worked on over the past two months to the test.”