Bahrain set for Jiu Jitsu action

Manama : Bahrain’s athletes have their first taste of action today at the Fifth edition of the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, with five participants in the Men’s Jiu Jitsu Ne-Waza competition at the Martial Arts Arena.

Mohammed Abudrees will be in action in the one-day of competition in the Round of 16 bout of the under-69kg category against Thailand’s Banpot Lertthaisong, while Ali Ebrahimi (85kg) takes on Harout Karoghlanian from Lebanon, also in a Round of 16 bout.

Three other Bahrainis - Nijad Al Gosaibi (85kg), Ahmed Shebeeb (77kg) and Ali Munfaredi (77kg) all received byes into the quarter-finals.

Bahrain are coached by Reza Monfaradi who hopes his fighters can reach the semi-finals an ensure a podium finish. 

Elsewhere, the three-member taekwondo team resumed preparations in the women’s competition as Jumana Mohammed (73kg) faces Thai opponent Kanjana Sukeewas in a Round of 16 bout tomorrow, while her younger sister Juana (62kg) is in action on Wednesday when she takes on the Vietnamese Thi Nguyen Haalso in the Round of 16 and the third team member Walaa Al Doseri (57kg) faces Chimi Dolma of Bhutan in her opening encounter on Thursday.

The trio Bahrainis are being coached by Tawfeeq Nuwaiser of Jordan, who described the event is an important opportunity for his young players to obtain more experience, improve their skills and rating.

Bahrain’s only other entrant is in wrestling when Adam Batirov (70kg freestyle) a former Asian champion and coached by Mahmood Magomedov.is in action on September 25.

Meanwhile, the games were officially declared open last night at a colorful opening ceremony at the 45,000-seater Ashgabat Olympic Stadium.