Namibia’s Young Jiu-Jitsu Stars Honoured After Shining at International Championship

Namibia’s Young Jiu-Jitsu Stars Honoured After Shining at International Championship. The Namibia Jiu-Jitsu Team paid a courtesy visit to the Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture, Hon. Dino Ballotti, following their remarkable performance at the International AJP Jiu-Jitsu Competition held in South Africa on 26 October 2025.

The delegation, made up of 19 young athletes aged between 5 and 14, proudly represented Namibia and returned home with an impressive total of 19 medals — 9 gold, 9 silver, and 1 bronze. Their outstanding performance earned the team an overall second-place finish among 14 competing nations, securing their qualification for the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi next year.

During the visit, Hon. Ballotti congratulated the athletes for their exceptional discipline, teamwork, and dedication. He praised the Namibia Jiu-Jitsu community, including coaches and parents, for their role in nurturing young talent and promoting the sport’s values of perseverance, respect, and excellence.

The Deputy Minister encouraged the young athletes to balance their sporting ambitions with education, urging them to pursue both athletic and academic excellence. “Whatever sport you are in, you can say, ‘I will be excellent at this sport, but I also want to be something else in life. You can do anything you put your mind to — never let anyone tell you that you can’t,’” he said.

The team’s success not only brings pride to Namibia but also showcases the country’s growing footprint in international martial arts. Their achievements serve as an inspiration for young athletes nationwide and a reminder of the potential that lies within Namibia’s youth.