First Round of Vice President Cup Championship to kick-off this Saturday in Abu Dhabi

Jiu-Jitsu fans in the UAE are gearing up for the launch of the new Vice President’s Cup championship this weekend. The UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation (UAEJJF) has completed preparations for the inaugural edition of the Championship with the first round getting underway on 10th November at Al Jazira Sports and Cultural Club in Abu Dhabi.

The Vice President’s Cup Championship holds a special importance, as the cup is considered one of two national championships, allowing UAE sports club to compete to win one of the most coveted national titles; after the President’s Cup Championship.

This Championship will adopt a new technical system (open belt and weight-based) in three categories; male adults, youth U21’s, juniors U15’s, U16’s, and U17’s.

The Championship will feature similar rules to international championships; such as the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship to be held soon in Sweden. This will allow the players to become acquainted with the techniques implemented in international fights, and build their stamina to compete for international titles in future.

Mohammed Salem Al Dhaheri, Vice Chairman of the UAEJJF, said, “The importance of the Vice President’s Cup Championship stems from the name it holds, and is great addition to this season’s roster. The Championship also complements the UAEJJF’s strategy of promoting Jiu-Jitsu in the UAE, elevating the UAE as a global hub for Jiu-Jitsu.”

Adding further, Al Dhaheri said, “The Championship will promote fierce competition amongst local clubs. It also supports our mission of discovering local talent and ensuring they’re capable of competing in the national team and participating at international championships.”

Al Dhaheri emphasised the popularity of Jiu-Jitsu on a national level and underlined the intensive work and preparation the sport requires.

In addition to the exhilarating nature of the Championship, due to the sheer number of matches, the UAEJJF has adopted a new system called “Second Chance” which allows the losing player a chance to compete for a bronze medal in one last match before being eliminated.

The UAEJJF previously adopted an awards system, which rewarded the top three clubs with a financial prize, based on the total points scored in the three rounds of the Championship.

The Federation designed a special cup for the championship, representing its importance. The cup will be presented to the winning team after the final round is held in Dubai.

The first round of the Vice President’s Cup will be followed by two further rounds. The Federation will organise the second round in Fujairah in January 2019, and the third round of the Championship will be held in Dubai in next March.