Women’s Jiu-Jitsu in UAE ready to shine at 2023 Asian Games and beyond, coach says

Next year’s Hangzhou Asian Games remain a top priority for the UAE women’s national team, and head coach Polyana Lago believes the extra 12 months after the schedule change will help the team grow stronger.

Four-time world champion Lago has already achieved results, with Mahra Al Hanaei taking silver when Jiu-Jitsu debuted at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta.Followed by Shamma Al Kalbani in World Games in Alabama last month.

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With the Hangzhou Asian Games postponed by a year to September 2023 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Brazilians are maximizing their time to keep the Emirati female fighters in top form.

In Jakarta, female athletes are limited to two heavyweight divisions. But this time, the number of gold medals at 49kg, 51kg, 56kg and 63kg has doubled.

“The Asian Games have been rescheduled for a year to give us more time to prepare and improve our women’s world ranking points,” Lago told National.

“We have a squad of 14 that is training, 8 of them will be picked and 2 of them will go into the four weight classes.”

To boost their JJIU (Jiu-Jitsu International Union) world ranking points, the national women’s teams will compete in the Balkan Open, followed by the German Open in September and the World Championships in November.

“High scores mean our girls will get better rankings in the Asian Games and will also count towards qualifying for the 2025 World Games,” Lago said.

While the Asian Games remain a priority, the 2025 Chengdu World Games are also on the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation’s (UAEJJF) priority list.

“The Asian Games and the World Games are our federation’s biggest goals,” Lago said.

“We have submitted proposals to our federations to work with the U16 and U18 age groups so that we can qualify the maximum number of athletes for the 2025 World Games.

“We have three years to qualify the girls for all heavyweight competitions. Once we get federal approval, the program has to start.”

Lago, 42, has been competing in the UAE for 10 years after joining the Jiu-Jitsu school programme, which was launched in 2008 by the United Arab Emirates Federation in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Education Council. She has seen firsthand how the sport has changed.

“When I first came here, Jiu-Jitsu, especially for girls, was in its infancy,” she recalls.

“I started at a school in the Al Yaha area of ​​Ain. We taught the girls the basics and the game was based on the basics. The fight was over because the girls didn’t have any floor moves at the time.

“I didn’t expect to teach girls who didn’t know martial arts. I struggled for a few months because everything was different for me – dealing with girls with different lifestyles, cultures and teaching them Jiu-Jitsu for the first time.

“The first few months were very difficult. Then I started to learn about Emirati culture and the best way to educate them in combat sports. Over time, I really started to enjoy my job.”

Lago was promoted to team leader and then head of the Al Ain area. She played a key role in setting up training programmes in 15 schools. In 2016, she was appointed head coach of the national women’s team on a three-year contract.

After completing his tenure as national team coach, Lago was sent to Ras Al Khaimah as part of the school’s curriculum. She returns to the national team in 2021 under a new contract.

“I’ve seen Jiu-Jitsu all over the world and the change that’s happening among Emirati girls is amazing,” she said.

“I have seen a huge increase in the level of technology, with some of them competing abroad on a regular basis. In my opinion, this is a huge achievement in 10 years.

“Recently, some girls have taken a professional approach to the sport. We have coaches, fitness trainers, physiotherapists and nutritionists all training and preparing for competition.

“The girls are well aware of being a professional athlete. I’ve seen their lifestyles change on and off the field.”

Lago lists 19-year-old Al Kalbani as pursuing his path to becoming a black belt champion, who took silver from the Rio Grand Slam last week.

“Shamma lost the final by one point in the last three seconds,” the coach said of her last match.

“She came back from the World Games with a double bronze in the 63kg and open weights, reached the final at the Rio Grand Slam two weeks later, and excelled against high-level opponents in Brazil.”

That said, Largo is a little concerned that many girls get to the point where they stop to pursue their careers or settle down into marriages.

“It’s a cultural barrier and a very sensitive area,” Lago said. “Most girls stop exercising after finishing school and either work full time or get married.

“We can’t change the culture overnight, but I can see it changing for some people who might want to stay on as professional athletes.

“However, I don’t think it’s a problem because Emirati girls have only been in Jiu-Jitsu for 10 years. What they have achieved during that time is already an achievement.”

Lago believes that will change over a period of time, perhaps in the next 10 years, as Emirati athletes compete as professional players.

“As a coach, I don’t want to see someone work all the way to a good level and then suddenly stop. Here, the lifespan of a professional female athlete is 14 to 25,” she said.

“If you look at the physiology of a female athlete, she peaks from 23 to 33. I hope we can push girls a little further, maybe to 30.”

Updated: August 8, 2022 5:42 am