ADGS Abu Dhabi: Youths take the stage and warm up the mats with promising displays of technique

May 10, 2024

Closing the season with a bang, the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam World Tour is back to the UAE, bringing talented rookies and well-known powerhouses to show their skills at the modern Mubadala Arena. Starting this Friday, May 10th, the ADGS Abu Dhabi opens the weekend of competition with the athletes of the Youth Category, providing fight fans a glimpse into the promising future of competitive Jiu-Jitsu. On the following day, Amateurs and Masters take the stage and set the tone for the third and final day of the tournament, which will welcome the aces of the Professional category to show their techniques at the arena on Sunday, May 12th.

Filled with the young athletes who will carry the torch of Jiu-Jitsu for generations to come, the ADGS Abu Dhabi had an outstanding first day. Whether it was the youngest white belts or the more seasoned teenage purple belts, there was no shortage of contenders for the UAE competition, with boys and girls giving their 110% as they sought to earn the recognition and experience they'll need to keep advancing in their journey toward the top of the competitive food chain. But while these warriors still have a long road ahead of them, the Jiu-Jitsu shown here was good enough to make for an incredible opener for the last Abu Dhabi Grand Slam of the season. Check out below the tournament's highlights, and click here for the full results!

YOUTH MEN'S GI / PURPLE / 60KG

Representing Alatau Academy, the Kazakh Abylai Amangeldi conquered the 60kg division title after defeating the local Rashid Qayed, from M.O.D UAE. The fight was fast and intense, with Abylai quickly taking the lead and scoring six points while giving his opponent almost no chance to fight back. Soon enough, Rashid left himself open and Abylai saw his chance to end the bout, locking a submission to take the win and the gold in the tournament.

YOUTH WOMEN'S GI / PURPLE / 48KG

Another Kazakhstan athlete on the podium, Nuray Altynbek fought in the final against Ellise Malilay, from the Philippines. The fight was not an easy one and both competitors found room to score multiple times throughout the regulated time. When the clock ran out, a 5-3 score pointed to Nuray as the winner, taking the title for the Samat Ramazanov Academy.

YOUTH MEN'S GI / BLUE / 50KG

In the 50kg division, the Emirati blue belt Obaid Alketbi put on an amazing performance to conquer the gold in his home country. After his first victory, Obaid submitted Sultan Alhammadi in the quarters, scored last to beat Kamal Mohammad in the semifinal, and took the win in the gold round by locking a submission on the Kazakh Emirhan Samat.

YOUTH MEN'S GI / BLUE / 66KG

In the 66kg bracket, the Emirati Ahmad Andeez showed his stamina and prowess while representing M.O.D UAE in his homeland. Fighting four times to reach the top of the podium, Ahmad started by beating Mahmudjon Nazrizod with a narrow 2-1 score, then submitted Mohamed Abdelaziz in the quarterfinal, scored 9-7 against Harib Alhammadi in the semis, and landed a second submission against Kyrgyzstan's Sultan Ruslanbekov to close his golden campaign.

YOUTH WOMEN'S GI / BLUE / 48KG

Three fights and three wins for the UAE's Maitha Almezaini in the 48kg division. With all her opponents coming from different parts of the world, Maitha first submitted Kazakhstan's Mariya Lelikova and then landed a second submission on the Filipino Nikeisha Pascual to advance to the final, in which she scored a 2-0 to overcome the Emirati Marim Hassan. With all foes down, Maitha took the title of the Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club.

YOUTH WOMEN'S GI / BLUE / 52KG

Hailing from Ireland, Sophie Watkins showed her technical know-how in the 52kg bracket. Starting in the quarterfinal, she outscored Rodha Alameri by 8-0 and then went on to land the exact same score against Khulood Al Taher in the semis. The last match saw Sophie going up against Meera Shraim and the fight started a little slower, with both competitors taking the time to analyze one another before making any meaningful moves. Once again, Sophie's technique was the deciding factor, with the Irish athlete seeing her chance and locking the winning submission with a little over a minute on the clock.

At the end of the tournament, three Emirati teams had the most winning athletes on the first day. Taking the lead, Al Jazira Jiu-Jitsu took the first-place trophy, followed by Al Ain Jiu-Jitsu Club in second place and Sharjah Self Defense Sports Club in third. But the ADGS Abu Dhabi is only just beginning and now we turn our eyes to the second day of competition, which will bring the warriors from the Amateur and Master categories to the mats set up at the Mubadala Arena. Follow @ajptour on social media to stay up-to-date on all news regarding the organization and go to TX7.ae to watch the competition live.