December 2021 15 www.bahrainthismonth.com interview training at the age of 12 it was the beginning of classes for children in Bahrain. “And I’ve never stopped since.” By the time Ali was a young teen he decided to compete in tournaments but there were no divisions for children and teenagers. “I would just compete with the adults and needless to say, in my first few tournaments I lost and I lost and I lost until I won my very first medal, which was coincidentally at the first World Professional Jiu Jitsu Championship. I got a bronze medal, and to this day, I might say that was my most beautiful medal as it meant a great deal to me,” he says of a moment that would spur an illustrious sporting career. “That first medal incentivised me to go for the next one and the one after that, and before I knew it, I was a professional competitor.” THE BIG WIN Ali had previously participated at the Jiu Jitsu World Championship in 2018, then winning the bronze medal. “The gold medal is one that I’ve been chasing for a very long time. With the pandemic and whatnot, I didn’t have the opportunity to redeem myself,” says Ali. Prior to the tournament, Ali had won the Asian championship building momentum leading up to the international event. To step up his game, Ali hired a personal trainer to oversee his strength and conditioning, and another for his mobility training while the team at Elements oversaw his Jiu Jitsu training. “The tournament is based on national teams and to have the Bahrain flag at the top of the podium was not only a huge deal for me, but for our folks at home too,” says Ali. “Shortly after the medal ceremony, I received a call from His Majesty King Hamad, who congratulated me and asked me to convey his regards to my family and the entire team,” he says. “To my surprise, a few days later, we were told that we’re going to be flown into Bahrain to join them on a very special lunch.” The event was the first official visit of the President of Brazil, Jair Messias Bolsonaro to the Kingdom of Bahrain. “I received the badge of Bahrain of the second degree and honour which was bestowed upon me by HM King Hamad. I also had the opportunity to meet and speak to HE the President of Brazil, his top ministers and delegation,” says Ali who speaks fluent Portuguese. “We flew back to Abu Dhabi just a few hours later as I was still coaching and competing. It was an unbelievable day and I’m still trying to recollect some of the top moments from that experience.” THE ‘BEST ASIAN ATHLETE’ During the tournament, Ali had also won the title of ‘Best Asian Athlete’ for the second consecutive year. “The trophy doesn’t represent a single tournament run, but is rather your accumulation throughout the season. It was very neck and neck for a while, but I’ve been very focused and will hopefully go for the third next year,” says Ali. When asked what he believes is the reason for his success, Ali modestly says that he doesn’t believe anything distinguishes him from the competition. “That’s a tough one; I just think that I am willing to play the long game. I need to take a pure and honest look at myself, reevaluate, see where the flaws are, see what I need to improve and such is life,” he says. “I really don’t think there’s any secret other than grit, determination and daily sacrifice. I think the people closest to me will see that, at the very least, I embody those qualities,” he adds. THE TIME IS NOW The world of sports is rapidly changing in Bahrain and Bahraini athletes are consistently proving that they are a force to reckon with. Hence, Ali believes that now is the best time to be an athlete in Bahrain. “There’s no denying that Bahrain’s sports have reached another level following the leadership of HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa who brought sports to a completely different level, not just through exposure, but also in the form of support and national participation,” he says. Ali believes that Bahraini athletes have several resources at their disposal and that the age of social media provides them with the opportunity to get recognition and respect.
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