Images: Ane Nunes/Gentle Art Media
[Press release.]
Day 1 of the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Rio welcomed over 600 athletes for a full day of Jiu-Jitsu at the Arena Carioca, in the heart of the Olympic Park, in Brazil’s most famous city. Talented purple belts and passionate white belts took to the mats to test their skills and fight to the end to decide who would come out as champion in each division.
The purple belt division was the highlight of day 1 with upcoming talents proving that the future of Jiu-Jitsu is secured. In the adult division, the gold medalists were:
MALE
56kg – Isaias Santos (Nova União); 62kg – Fabrício Junior (Alliance); 69kg – Meryan Alves (Guigo JJ); 77kg – Pedro Costa (FR Team); 85kg – Roberto Junior (DDR-JJ); 94kg – Erich dos Santos (Nova União); 110kg – Anderson Munis (Nova União).
FEMALE
49kg – Brenda Larissa (Alliance); 55kg – Jessica Dantas (Caio Terra Association); 62kg – Leticia Murakami (Guigo JJ); 70kg – Raiane Santos (Gracie Barra); 90kg – Yara Nascimento (Guigo JJ).
For the complete results of day 1, click here.
The other highlight of the first day in Rio was the weigh-in for the black belt divisions. Starting at 5PM local time, the biggest stars of the weekend stepped on the scale to get the OK to compete in the weight division they signed up to. Those who didn’t show up today will have the final chance this Saturday morning, before the matches kick off at 10AM.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Rio returns to action this Saturday, November 17, with black belt and brown belt divisions. Click here for more info. You can watch it live on Flo Grappling. Follow the complete coverage on Instagram, @ADWJJT.
