ABU Dhabi: Abu Dhabi is set to host the eighth edition of the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championships at Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City from May 1-8, the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation has announced.
The championships, organized by the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Union and hosted by the UAEJJF, will, for the first time, include competitions in the youth (under 16 and 18) categories this year. Competitions for adults will run from May 1-5, followed by the Asian championships for youth from May 5-8.
Attracting elite athletes from various parts of the continent, the Asian championship is considered one of the most prominent events on the Asian jiu-jitsu calendar, and provides an ideal platform for athletes from across the continent to showcase and test their skills.
“We are pleased to host the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship for the second time in less than four years,” said Fahad Ali Al-Shamsi, secretary-general of the UAE and Asian jiu-jitsu federations.
“Abu Dhabi has been hosting major global and continental jiu-jitsu championships, and over the past decade, has become a role model for event organization and hosting. It has gained the trust of all continental federations and the Jiu-Jitsu International Federation, as Abu Dhabi is a source of inspiration in promoting and developing jiu-jitsu and creating champions.
“The UAE and Abu Dhabi stand as major hubs for international jiu-jitsu, serving as destinations for discovering talent, honing champions, and attracting the most prominent international stars. This is made possible by the limitless support of the visionary leadership of the UAE, which has been the cornerstone of the great strides the country has made in the realm of sports, especially jiu-jitsu.”
Al-Shamsi said that the positive aspects of hosting the Asian Jiu-Jitsu Championship are not limited to the sports sector, but also have a significant impact on stimulating tourism and attracting fans from Asian countries to stand behind and support their national teams.
Regarding the preparations of the UAE national team, Al-Shamsi said that team members are already undergoing rigorous training, adding that the federation has full faith in the team’s capabilities to perform well and raise the nation’s flag high.
UAE to host 8th edition of Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championships in May
https://arab.news/gen5x
UAE to host 8th edition of Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championships in May
- Tournament for adults will run from May 1-5, followed by youth competitions from May 5-8
- “We are pleased to host the Jiu-Jitsu Asian Championship for the second time in less than four years,” said secretary-general of the UAE and Asian jiu-jitsu federations
Djokovic hints at retirement as time seeps away on history bid
- Djokovic: That much love, support, positivity. I tried to give you back with good tennis over the years
- It had the ring of a farewell speech and did not appear to have been just an emotional response to defeat
MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic leaves the Australian Open still stuck on 24 Grand Slam titles and with fresh doubts about how many more tries he will have at winning an outright-record 25th.
The 38-year-old has consistently dismissed talk of retirement and said he is eyeing the defense of his Olympic gold at the Los Angeles Games in 2028.
But after losing to Carlos Alcaraz in four sets in the final on Sunday, the Serb suggested he may not be back in Melbourne.
“God knows what happens tomorrow, let alone in six months or 12 months,” he told the crowd at Rod Laver Arena.
“So it has been a great ride. I love you guys.”
Djokovic has won a record 10 Australian Opens and until Sunday had never lost a final there.
But for all his success, Djokovic has not always had an easy relationship with the Melbourne fans.
“I want to just say in the end that you guys, particularly the last couple of matches, gave me something that I have never experienced in Australia,” he said.
“That much love, support, positivity. I tried to give you back with good tennis over the years.”
It had the ring of a farewell speech and did not appear to have been just an emotional response to defeat.
He said he had prepared two speeches, one for winning and the other for losing.
Faltering record
Djokovic won his 24th Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2023, drawing him level with the Australian Margaret Court at the top of the all-time list.
But age and injuries, plus the emergence of world No. 1 Alcaraz and No. 2 Jannik Sinner, have left him unable to win another.
Before Sunday, his previous Grand Slam final had been in 2024, when he lost the Wimbledon decider, again to Alcaraz.
Last year he reached the semifinals of all four majors but got no further, with Alcaraz and Sinner sharing the spoils.
He rolled back the years to defeat Sinner — 14 years his junior — in a five-set semifinal marathon in Melbourne.
But after Djokovic won the first set, the 22-year-old Alcaraz took a stranglehold on the final to sweep to victory 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5.
Underlining where Djokovic is now in the pecking order of men’s tennis, he admitted he had not expected to reach another major final.
‘I always believe’
If the former world No. 1 was going to win that elusive 25th, he may reflect that he has seen his best remaining chance come and go.
He is the undisputed king of Melbourne Park and Rod Laver Arena is the court where he has had the most success.
The fourth seed enjoyed two big pieces of luck in reaching the semifinals.
Djokovic enjoyed free passage through the fourth round when Jakub Mensik pulled out with injury.
He was then facing defeat at two sets down to Lorenzo Musetti, only for the Italian fifth seed to retire injured.
He rolled back the years to beat Sinner and make the final, but a repeat success so soon after playing five sets was beyond him.
“Overall, for sure it’s been a fantastic tournament,” he said.
“I knew that I’d probably have to beat two of them (Alcaraz and Sinner) on the way to the title.
“I beat one, which is great, so it’s a step more further than I have gone in Grand Slams than last year.
“Very nice, encouraging. But, you know, not enough for me.”
So what next for one of the all-time greats?
For whatever time is left, he won’t give up on that 25th Grand Slam crown, even if the odds are now stacked against him.
“I always believe I can,” Djokovic said about finally eclipsing Court.
“Otherwise, I wouldn’t be competing.”
