Bashayer Al Matrooshi insists there is still "a lot of pressure" when she competes at age group level as she reflected on winning a gold medal at the Al Ain Kids Jiu-Jitsu International.
The 16 year old is a member of the UAE women’s national team and recently returned with a bronze from the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Turkmenistan last month. Before that, she won a silver at the Asian Championship in Vietnam.
In both competitions, she competed against opponents who were older and graded higher, so her latest success in the Under-18s event at the UAE University’s sports complex at the weekend was not unexpected.
While Bashayer admits that competing at age-group level is less challenging than with adults, she said the focus placed on her means she cannot afford to lose, which creates more expectations on her shoulders.
“There is a lot of pressure in every competition,” said Bashayer, who is a blue belt, the highest rating a juvenile competitor can reach .
“For me, I have a lot to lose than win at this level because a win for me is normal, but if I lose, it’s big news. My objective always is to win gold, regardless what level I’m competing.”
Bashayer normally competes in the 60kg division, but stepped up to 70kg to give herself a bigger challenge.
She won all three of her three fights on points; against Yamna Al Shamsi, Jawaher Al Yaqoubi, and Latifa Al Ryani in the final.
“I competed in a heavier weight so I can compete against some of the stronger opponents,” she said.
With no tournaments coming up for the women’s national team in the immediate future, Bashayer said every competition, whether local or international, will be useful for her to maintain her competitive edge.
“The Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games was an excellent learning curve for us,” she said. “We want to take that forward. It was really tough competing against brown belts and fighters with more experience.
“Hopefully I can compete for Al Ain Club at the Grand Slams in Rio, Abu Dhabi and London.”
The Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour heads to Rio de Janeiro on November 10-12, before coming to the UAE capital on January 12-13. The World Tour then concludes in London on March 10-11.
The next big event for the women's UAE national team, which boasts an average age of around 17, is the Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang from August 18 to September 2.
“The competition in Turkmenistan was a trial for the Asian Games and I’m sure our federation (UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation) will leave no stone unturned to have us ready for it,” Bashayer said.
As well as her jiu-jitsu ambitions, Bashayer plans to pursue a career as a fighter pilot. She’s a Grade 12 pupil at Al Mali School in Al Ain and plans to study for a degree in mechanical engineering.
“Jiu-jitsu hasn’t disrupted my studies,” she said. “I have managed to balance them both. I have always been active and want to continue doing the two things I love most.”
Bashayer competed in athletics and swimming before taking up jiu-jitsu six years ago after watching some of her friends training at school.
“Like all girls I tried and liked it,” she said. “I did it for a year at school and joined Al Ain Club as I wanted to improve my levels.
“At first, my parents objected but they eventually gave me the OK. They have supported me since then. On my part, I haven’t disappointed them as I have done well with both my studies and jiu-jitsu.”
Bashayer has a twin sister, Rauda, who she says has no interest in jiu-jitsu, but is excited her little brother Khalifa, 4, has taken up jiu-jitsu at an early age.
“I’m thrilled Khalifa is in jiu-jitsu,” said Bashayer, proudly displaying his photo in her phone cover page. “My sister is just the opposite. She has no interest in sports, so my brother joining me in jiu-jitsu excites me.”
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
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Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
Washmen Profile
Date Started: May 2015
Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Laundry
Employees: 170
Funding: about $8m
Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Results
United States beat UAE by three wickets
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UAE v Scotland – no result
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Fixtures
Sunday, 10am, ICC Academy, Dubai - UAE v Scotland
Admission is free
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SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
if you go
The flights
Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Seoul from Dh3,775 return, including taxes
The package
Ski Safari offers a seven-night ski package to Korea, including five nights at the Dragon Valley Hotel in Yongpyong and two nights at Seoul CenterMark hotel, from £720 (Dh3,488) per person, including transfers, based on two travelling in January
The info
Visit www.gokorea.co.uk
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NO OTHER LAND
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TERMINAL HIGH ALTITUDE AREA DEFENCE (THAAD)
What is THAAD?
It is considered to be the US's most superior missile defence system.
Production:
It was created in 2008.
Speed:
THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.
Abilities:
THAAD is designed to take out ballistic missiles as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase".
Purpose:
To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres.
Range:
THAAD can target projectiles inside and outside the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 150 kilometres above the Earth's surface.
Creators:
Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.
UAE and THAAD:
In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then stationed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
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8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
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David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
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Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
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Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
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TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Sri Lanka World Cup squad
Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Thisara Perera, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis, Isuru Udana, Milinda Siriwardana, Avishka Fernando, Jeevan Mendis, Lahiru Thirimanne, Jeffrey Vandersay, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal.
Dubai World Cup draw
1. Gunnevera
2. Capezzano
3. North America
4. Audible
5. Seeking The Soul
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Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
