The Jiu-Jitsu competitions kicked off as part of the 13th edition of the Nad Al Sheba Sports Cycle, at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex in Dubai amidst a competitive atmosphere full of excitement. At the end of the first day's competitions, the Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club topped the general standings, with the Al Jazira Jiu-Jitsu Club in second place, and the Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club in third. The tournament saw wide participation from the junior and youth categories from various local clubs and academies, reflecting the broad base of participation in these age groups and the importance of the tournament in providing promising competitive opportunities for players. The bouts were characterized by tactical caution and attempts to impose a playing style, with players' ability to manage the flow of the match and control technical situations being prominent. Fine details decided many matches through transitions between positions and scoring points, which gave the encounters a balanced competitive nature reflecting the maturity of the participants' performance at this stage. In turn, Vice President of the Jiu-Jitsu Federation, Mohammed Salem Al Dhaheri, stated that "the Nad Al Sheba Jiu-Jitsu Championship represents one of the important stops on the calendar of local tournaments and competitions," expressing his appreciation for the Nad Al Heba Sports Cycle and the role played by the Dubai Sports Council in supporting and organizing this quality event. He said that "the existing partnership between the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation and the Dubai Sports Council represents an effective model for integration between sports institutions in the country, contributing to consolidating the presence of Jiu-Jitsu on the local scene." He noted that "holding the competitions at the Nad Al Sheba Sports Complex gives the championship additional organizational and technical value for the comprehensive environment it provides that responds to the highest standards of hosting tournaments." In turn, Talal Al Asbahi, father of Al Jazira Jiu-Jitsu Club players Abdullah and Mohammed Al Asbahi, who participated in the juniors' competitions, said that "families are keen to encourage their children to participate in the Ramadan tournaments for the role they play in investing their time in a healthy and balanced manner during the holy month." He confirmed that "the Nad Al Sheba Championship provides a suitable competitive environment for youth, enhancing discipline, maintaining physical readiness, in addition to the positive experience it brings together players and their families around the sport." As for Saud Al Balushi, a player from Sharjah Combat Sports Club, who won the gold medal in the juniors' 46 kg category, he relied on controlling the distance and imposing the right pace for each encounter, focusing on a quick transition to controlling positions, indicating that the closeness of the competition level required continuous reading of the opponent's movements and making decisions at the right time. He said that "the Nad Al Sheba Championship represents an important station in the context of preparing for upcoming events, as it provides exposure to players from different schools and styles within a strong competitive environment, which contributes to testing technical and physical readiness and identifying development points before upcoming external participations." The tournament's competitions will continue tomorrow with the holding of senior category bouts, which bring together the most experienced players on the local scene in their quest to enhance their presence and achieve advanced results within one of the country's most prominent Jiu-Jitsu championships.
