Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club moved top of the standings after the opening day of the jiu-jitsu competition at the 13th NAS Sports Tournament at Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex in Dubai.
Al Jazira are second overall, with Al Ain in third after the first set of bouts.
Tuesday’s programme centred on the Teen and Youth divisions, with clubs and academies from around the UAE represented across the brackets. Several matches were decided by fine margins, with points and positional control proving the difference.
Mohamed Salem Al Dhaheri, vice chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said the NAS event remains an important part of the local calendar, and credited tournament organisers and the Dubai Sports Council for their support. He added that staging the championship at Nad Al Sheba brings added value because of the venue’s facilities.
For many families, the timing during Ramadan is part of the appeal. Talal Al Asbahi, whose sons Abdullah and Mohammed competed for Al Jazira in the Teen division, said Ramadan tournaments offer children a healthy way to spend their time, while keeping them disciplined and match-ready.
Among Tuesday’s gold medallists was Saoud Alblooshi of Sharjah Self-Defence Sports Club, who won the Youth 46kg division. Alblooshi said he focused on managing distance and setting the pace early in his matches, and felt the close level of competition demanded clear decisions at the right time.
The competition continues on Wednesday with the Adult division, with some of the UAE’s most experienced athletes scheduled to compete.
