ABU DHABI: The Jiu-Jitsu President’s Cup 2023 kicked off at the Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City on Friday with preliminary round competitions in the U-14 and U-16 divisions showcasing the skills of male and female athletes from various clubs and academies across the UAE.
Al-Ain and Sharjah Self-Defense Sports Club secured their place in the finals for U-14 boys, while Baniyas and Sharjah Self-Defense made it to the finals in the girls’ division. In the U-16 category, Al-Ain and Al-Wahda secured their spots in the boys’ final, while Baniyas and Al-Jazira qualified for the girls’ final.
Mohammed Salem Al-Dhaheri, deputy chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, praised the athletes’ performances, saying in a press release: “The brilliance of the boys and girls on the mats reflects the efforts of clubs and academies in developing programs that improve their abilities, qualify them for competition and prepare them optimally to join the national team.
“The championship is developing year after year, and presents us with a group of new talents capable of preserving the gains made by UAE Jiu-Jitsu in the past,” he added. “There is no doubt that adding the Under-14 category to the tournament added more excitement to the competitions, especially since they represent the future and the next generation of champions.”
Obaid Al-Kaabi, a director at Baniyas Sports Company, said: “Baniyas Club has been the title holder for four consecutive years in the adult category. The team has achieved other notable accomplishments in the women’s category of different age groups.” He added that their preparations for the tournament began several weeks ago, with the goal of achieving the unique accomplishment and retaining the title in all categories.
Abdul Aziz Al-Hammadi, director of the Sports Training Department at the Sharjah Self-Defense Sports Club, praised the organization of the tournament and stressed his club’s goal of enhancing awareness about the sport.
Obaid Saeed Alketbi, a participant from Al-Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club in the U-16, under-55 kilograms division, said: “Participating in the Jiu-Jitsu President’s Cup is a source of pride for all of us. Our team today is determined to maintain the title the juniors achieved last year, and the beginning has been very promising, as we succeeded in the first group of fights, which were not without difficulty, and we will continue with team spirit until the (end).”
Alyazia Alhammadi, who represented Al-Wahda Club Jiu-Jitsu Academy in the U-16, under-45kg division said: “We started our preparations at Al-Wahda Club a full month ago. We were able to win the first fights, and our most important weapons are focus and teamwork toward one goal, which is achieving the title.”
Jiu-Jitsu President’s Cup kicks off in Abu Dhabi
https://arab.news/c93n9
Jiu-Jitsu President’s Cup kicks off in Abu Dhabi
- Under-14s and Under-16s impress on day one at Mubadala Arena
- Al-Ain and Sharjah Self-Defense Sports Club secured their place in the finals for U-14 boys
T20 World Cup: England rout Sri Lanka for 95 to win Super Eights opener
- England were asked to bat first, scored what looked like below-par 146-9
- Archer, Will Jacks took five wickets to leave Sri Lanka top order in tatters
KANDY: England routed Sri Lanka for 95 to give captain Harry Brook a perfect birthday present as they opened the T20 World Cup Super Eights phase with a resounding 51-run win in Kandy on Sunday.
After England were asked to bat first and scored what looked like a below-par 146-9, Jofra Archer and Will Jacks took five wickets during the six-over power play to leave Sri Lanka’s top order in tatters at 34-5.
“That’s a beautiful birthday present,” said Brook, who turned 27 on Sunday.
“I thought we played exceptionally there. To get over the line and bowl them out for less than 100 is an awesome effort.
“I didn’t think there were really any demons on the pitch. I think the spinners on both sides used the pace really well, and that’s what brought a lot of wickets.”
It was England’s 12th win in a row against Sri Lanka and on a pitch that was sticky and slow after rain all week in Kandy.
The margin of victory gives them a healthy net run rate advantage in a Super Eights group that could be further affected by weather, after the New Zealand-Pakistan match was washed out on Saturday in Colombo.
“We’re buzzing with that,” said Jacks who was named player of the match for the third time in five matches in the tournament.
“At the halfway stage, we were pleased to get up to 146, but obviously we knew we were going to have to bowl well and work hard.”
The searing pace of Jofra Archer accounted for both openers, including the in-form Pathum Nissanka (9), who had scored a century and 62 in his last two knocks but failed to clear Jamie Overton at deep mid-wicket.
Archer finished with 2-20 and Jacks 3-22, the latter accounting for Kusal Mendis (4) and Pavan Rathnayake (0) in consecutive balls.
Dunith Wellalage staved off the hat-trick but lasted only 10 balls before also falling to Jacks, for 10.
LONE BATTLE
Dasun Shanaka fought a lone battle scoring 30 off 24 balls before falling to Adil Rashid.
The Sri Lanka captain took on the leg-spinner but Jacks took the catch and tossed the ball to Tom Banton before stepping over the boundary.
“It’s one bad game which is not affordable in a World Cup,” said Shanaka.
“But we need to bounce back in the next couple of games.”
Sri Lanka earlier restricted England to 146-9 with left-arm spinner Wellalage taking 3-26.
Phil Salt scored 62 at the top of the order but Sri Lanka, who are missing three of their frontline bowlers, contained the rest of the England batting line-up with regular wickets.
Wellalage was introduced during the power play and trapped the out-of-form Jos Buttler (7) and Brook (14), both lbw, as England limped to 68-4 at the halfway mark.
Salt was caught in the deep off Wellalage after facing 40 deliveries with six fours and two sixes.
Jacks, with 21, was the only other England batsman to score more than 20.
“Jacksie was pretty annoyed with the way he got out,” said Brook, who then explained why the new ball was tossed to the off-spinner.
“He said to me he always bowls better when he’s angry, and thankfully he got off to a cracking start.”
Left-arm seamer Dilshan Madushanka took 2-25 while Maheesh Theekshana took 2-21 with his offspin.
