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ABU DHABI: The opening day of the eighth and final round of the second edition of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship began on Friday at Mubadala Arena in Zayed Sports City, with Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club taking top spot on the leaderboard.

Friday’s action featured record participation from dozens of athletes representing clubs and academies across the UAE. Al-Jazira Jiu-Jitsu Club finished the day in second place, followed by M.O.D UAE in third.

The opening day saw matches in the under-18 adults and masters divisions in the Gi category.

The championship concludes on Sunday with the crowning of the overall season champions. The No-Gi competitions wrapped up in the previous round and Sharjah Self-Defence Sports Club clinched the title.

Mohammed bin Dalmouj Al-Dhaheri, board member of the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, said: “The opening day perfectly showcases how far jiu-jitsu has come in the UAE. The level of skill, preparation, and dedication from the athletes, coaches, and clubs highlights how this championship has grown into a key stage for developing future champions.

“Spreading the championship across three days gives every age group the chance to compete at their highest level. It also helps build consistency and technical growth among athletes, which remains one of our main priorities each season.”

Mohammed Al-Ketbi, from Baniyas Jiu-Jitsu Club, who won gold in the adults under-62 kg division, said: “I’ve taken part in every round of the Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Jiu-Jitsu Championship, in both Gi and No-Gi. I now have six golds and two silvers. The level of competition was intense, as expected, so our training was very focused, with three sessions a day — two on the mats and one for strength and conditioning.”

The championship continues on Saturday with the under-14 and under-16 categories before concluding on Sunday with the under-12 and children’s divisions.

MANAMA: Preseason testing for the 2025 Aramco F4 ��������n Championship concluded on Friday at the Bahrain International Circuit, marking the final stage of preparations ahead of the opening race of the season this weekend.
Both of the official testing sessions were marked by excitement and intense concentration, accompanied by close technical monitoring by the participating teams. In the first session, Jacob Micallef of Team Zahid recorded the fastest lap time of 2 minutes 8.238 seconds, with an average speed of 151.9 kph, just 0.004 seconds ahead of Scott Kin Lindblom from Team Red Bull, followed by Thibaut Ramaekers, also from Team Zahid.
In the second session, driver Theo Palmer of Team JACO achieved the best time of 2 minutes 7.613 seconds, with an average speed of 152.6 kph, 0.002 seconds ahead of Kit Belofsky from Team PEAX, with Adam Alzahrani from Team Valvoline recording the third-best time.
Testing is a key milestone in preseason preparations that enables teams to evaluate the performance of their second-generation Tatuus F4-T421 cars and refine setup before racing begins. Friday’s sessions also gave drivers an invaluable opportunity to gain confidence and sharpen their racecraft under real race conditions on a technically demanding circuit known for its mix of fast straights and tight corners.
With testing complete, the 2025 Aramco F4 ��������n Championship shifts gear into race mode on Saturday and Sunday at the Bahrain International Circuit, followed by Round 2 at the same track on Oct. 15-16.
The action moves to ��������’s Jeddah Corniche Circuit, the fastest street circuit in the world, for Rounds 3 and 4 on Nov. 10-11 and Nov. 14-15, before concluding with a final round on Dec. 5-6, also in Jeddah.
The F4 ��������n Championship, part of an FIA-sanctioned, single-seater, entry-level series, aims to provide a key platform for the development of emerging motor sport talent in �������� and the wider region. The event is promoted by Altawkilat Motorsport under the supervision of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation.