Abu Dhabi named host for 2015 International Judo Federation World Youth Championship

ABU DHABI // The capital city added another fixture to its martial arts calendar crown by being chosen as host of the 2015 International Judo Federation (ISF) World Youth Championship.

The youth event will be staged in tandem with the IJF Abu Dhabi Grand Slam at the FGB Arena at Zayed Sports City next November.

The UAE Judo and Kickboxing Federation (UAEJKF) also are hoping the world youth championship will pave the way for Abu Dhabi to host the IJF World Championship.

“We are honoured and delighted to host this prestigious youth championship alongside the grand slam event next year,” said Mohammed bin Taloob Al Darai, president of the UAEJKF.

“It took five years for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to get upgraded to a grand slam and now we have both events scheduled for November 2015.

“We now wish these two events combined as a big step forward to host the IJF World Championship in the future.”

Al Darai said he believes such high-profile events will encourage the country’s youth to take the sport more seriously and allow them to participate in the world circuit.

“By hosting such high-level competitions we are encouraging our youth,” he said.

“As the host nation, we have more chances to provide them the opportunities of participating.

“Judo is quite popular, but it is yet to receive the recognition it needs among the youth. We are trying to inspire them by bringing some of the big events to their homes.

“Those who are in sports are aware judo is an Olympic medal sport and this is an opportunity to produce Olympians.

“This is a message for them to say ‘Here is an opportunity, grab it’.”

The capital over the weekend staged the first IJF Abu Dhabi Grand Slam after hosting Abu Dhabi Grand Prix for five successive years.

Paris, Baku, Tyumen and Russia have staged grand slam events this year, with Tokyo set to host the season finale next month.

“Our grand prix became a grand slam. It gives more credit to the development of judo in this country,” said Nasser Al Tamimi, general secretary of the UAEJKF, of the upgrade.

“Judo already had a very good image in the UAE and this positive image will be even stronger now. It will bring more people to our dojos.

“Of course, it puts more responsibilities on our shoulders, but we are ready for that. We want to offer a real grand slam standard.”

apassela@thenational.ae

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