ABU DHABI: The UAE national jiu-jitsu team is set to take to the mats at the Thailand Open Grand Prix 2023 in preparation for the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship in Mongolia and the Hangzhou Asian Games in China. The team left for Bangkok early on Wednesday.
The team, sponsored by Mubadala Investment Company, has been preparing in Abu Dhabi for the Thailand Open Grand Prix, which will take place from May 19-21 and include more than 200 athletes from 16 countries.
The Thailand Open Grand Prix is the team’s third international participation out of the nine international events on their calendar for the season, and it will be their second participation at a Grand Prix tournament.
“Our aim is to enhance the athletes’ readiness, physical condition, and ability to vie for upcoming championship titles including the World Championship in Mongolia in July and the Asian Games in China in October,” said Mubarak Al-Menhali, director of the technical department at the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, and a member of the UAE delegation that left for Thailand.
“It is an integral part of our strategy to actively participate in tournaments that are in line with our vision. These tournaments not only enable us to assess the ongoing development of our athletes’ skills but also offer valuable experience to the young talents who are joining our national team,” he said.
Ramon Lemos, head coach of the national team, said that the athletes are highly motivated to compete in tournaments of a similar nature.
“The team is determined to uphold its impressive track record in the World Championship as well as other prestigious tournaments. They are committed to making the most of every opportunity that comes their way through active participation,” he said.
“The team members are in high spirits and deeply understand the responsibility they hold in representing their country in Bangkok. The city holds fond memories for them, including the Asian Championship that took place last February,” Lemos added.
