ABU DHABI // Samantha Garces and Brioni Cuskelly would have done Australia proud yesterday when they became the first females from down under to win gold medals at the Abu Dhabi World Youth Jiu-Jitsu Championship.
Garces was the more impressive of the two as she had to overcome three opponents after drawing a first-round bye to win the juvenile blue belt 63-kilogram final from Canadian Hannah Goldstein.
“All the fights were tough and the final was very technical,” said Samantha, 17, who won by submission after taking a 3-0 lead over Hannah to claim gold yesterday at the Ipic Arena. “It’s my first international medal and I’m very excited.
“I have been practising the martial art for more than six years. I had the support and backing from my parents to travel to Abu Dhabi.”
Hannah, 15, was gracious in defeat. She had to come through one more fight than Samantha, including a second-round clash against Alexia Paiva of Angola, which she won 4-2 on points.
“I had to come across an amazing competitor in the final,” Hannah said. “I was just happy to reach the final.
“This is an amazing medal for me. I received my blue belt only a month ago and I’ll take this competition as an experience. I hope to come back and win a gold next year.”
Brioni won gold from Emirati Nouf Sultan in the teen 52kg orange/green belt.
Wadima Al Yafei, the only Emirati female to win a medal at the senior level of the Asian Beach Games in Vietnam last year, lived up to her top billing by taking gold in the juvenile blue belt 48kg weight. She won a unanimous points decision over compatriot Ayesha Al Dhaheri.
“I had to face only the Emirati competitors, but what can I do,” she said. “I can only challenge who is in front of me.”
Salamah Al Mansoori was the other Emirati female to strike gold in the blue belt division, claiming the final from Latifa Al Shamsi in the 44kg.
Dominique de Beer completed a double when taking the blue belt 82kg final from Ahlam Al Shkeili in just 12 seconds.
“That wasn’t surprising for me, but what will be interesting is when I get into the adult division,” said the South African, who won gold in the Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu Festival on Day 2 of the two-week long extravaganza.
“I have been practising jiu-jitsu for almost three years and I hold an advantage because of my athletic abilities.”
De Beer is a 12th-grade pupil of The Cambridge High School and trains at the Al Forsan Club in Abu Dhabi.
Anita Pokorna of Russia bagged the last gold of the day in the blue belt. She won the final against Batkhishig Basanjav of Mongolia by submission after leading 6-2 on points.
The Emirati girls won 52 of the 76 gold medals that were up for grabs, with Ukraine in second with five.
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