ABU DHABI // Ahmed Al Rejaibi says he hopes to continue his impressive start to the year by winning a gold medal on home turf at the World Jiu-Jitsu Children’s Cup next week.
Al Rejaibi, 16, is one of thousands of Emirati teenagers preparing for the championships at the IPIC Arena at Zayed Sports City from April 20 to 22.
His final training session this week with his Brazilian coach Helder Medeiros, who is also the UAE youth national team coach, focused mainly on technical aspects.
“I am going to rest and relax over the next few days, and just focus on the competition ahead,” Al Rejaibi said.
“You never know whom you come across in the competition, but even if you are up against a familiar opponent you need to be at your best to win.”
It is an approach that has served the youngster well so far this year. He recently won gold medals at the European Junior Jiu-Jitsu Open in Portugal in January and last month at the Jiu-Jitsu International Federation’s Junior World Championship in Greece.
This year will be Al Rejaibi’s fourth time competing in the Children’s Cup. He was a first-round loser at the inaugural event in 2011 but has won bronze medals the past two years.
“This time I want to win gold, now that I have the experience,” he said.
“It has been the best year for me so far and I hope I can be the winner in front of my home fans.”
Khalifa Al Kaabi, a teammate of Al Rejaibi on the UAE national youth team, is chasing a third gold in Abu Dhabi.
“The competition among the national youth team is tough and the bar is raised in every trial,” said Al Kaabi, who won gold at the American National Kids Jiu-Jitsu Championship last October. “I believe our levels too have risen sharply since the children’s championship was staged for the first time in Abu Dhabi.
“I won silver in my first appearance and gold twice since then. I hope I can repeat that performance.”
Al Kaabi, 16, also had a final workout this week mainly to review the technical points of his game under the watchful eyes of Medeiros.
“I feel I am in good shape and ready for the competition,” he said.
“In the next few days I will replay and review my fight strategies.
“I have worked very hard for this competition and am waiting for the action to begin.”
The Children’s Cup has drawn 2,509 entries, of which 2,270 are Emirati. Competition begins each day at 9am. The Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2015, the three-day event that follows the Children’s Cup, beginning April 23, exceeds 1,500 entries and offers Dh2 million in prize money.
More than 700 Emirati women and girls have entered the events.
apassela@thenational.ae
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