ABU DHABI: Zayed Al-Katheeri took his second Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship gold after defeating Anderson Duarte in the Men’s Gi Black Belt Professional 62 kg final at Mubadala Arena on Saturday.
Al-Katheeri, who also won the title in 2022, delivered a sharp and precise performance. He displayed strong technical control throughout the five-minute bout, which then moved to a golden score. Al-Katheeri secured two decisive points, including one for a takedown attempt, which earned him the win and put him on the top step of the podium.
The victory came in front of a lively crowd on the final day of the 17th Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, held under the generous patronage of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council.
Commando Group took first place in the overall standings in the professional division, with M.O.D UAE finishing second and Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club securing third.
Mohamed Salem Al-Dhaheri, vice chairman of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation and chairman of the Championship Organizing Committee, said: “Abu Dhabi is experiencing a special moment today, showing once again why it is the world capital of jiu-jitsu. We welcomed some of the best athletes in the world in a very energetic atmosphere. The championship achieved all its goals, including unprecedented participation numbers, high technical levels, great crowd attendance and wide media coverage. This success is the result of our leadership’s vision and its support, which continues to make a strong impact on the growth of UAE sports.
“Seeing an Emirati athlete on the black belt podium shows that the UAE continues to have a strong presence on the world stage. It also proves that the continuous efforts of the Federation are producing real results. This achievement encourages us to keep identifying and nurturing champions who can compete at the highest international levels.”
Al-Katheeri said: “I dedicate this achievement to our leadership, to my family, to the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation and to everyone who has supported me throughout my sporting journey. The competition against Anderson Duarte was not easy, but the support of the fans in the stands and the continuous work with the coaching team gave me great confidence in the key moments. This gold medal is a responsibility before it is a celebration, and I will return to training tomorrow to keep improving and make more achievements in future.”
The final day featured 12 professional finals across the Men’s Black Belt and Women’s Brown/Black Belt divisions, with 24 athletes from leading clubs and academies from 12 countries — the UAE, Brazil, Switzerland, Croatia, the US, Spain, Japan, Hungary, Canada, Russia, Germany and Portugal. The program included seven men’s black belt finals and five women’s brown/black belt finals.
The Abu Dhabi World Jiu-Jitsu Awards will take place on Sunday night.
