Thessaloniki takes centre stage in the world of SAMBO from October 2 to 4, as the World Cadets, Youth & Juniors SAMBO Championships take place at the PAOK Sports Arena, bringing athletes from more than 40 countries to Greece.
The event ranks among the most important international SAMBO competitions for younger age groups. National federations will compete for medals in Sport SAMBO across the Cadets (14-16), Youth (16-18) and Juniors (18-20) categories for boys and girls, men and women. The Juniors men’s programme will also feature Combat SAMBO competitions.
The championships give some of the sport’s leading young athletes the opportunity to compete for a world title and test themselves against international competition.
Athletes from Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, the Philippines, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, the United States, Uzbekistan and Venezuela will compete in Thessaloniki.
Greece will field more than 90 athletes across all age categories.
FIAS President Vasily Shestakov highlighted the symbolic significance of hosting the championships in Greece, and particularly in Thessaloniki.
“Greece is the birthplace of the Olympic Games and the spirit of fair play. It is symbolic that the World Cadets, Youth & Juniors SAMBO Championships take place here, in Thessaloniki. It is not simply a competition, but a dialogue between cultures through sport. The best ambassadors of this dialogue are the young SAMBO athletes who will step onto the tatami at the PAOK Sports Arena. I wish them to demonstrate not only strength and technique, but also respect for their opponents, the will to win and love for SAMBO,” Shestakov said.
Competition categories
In Sport SAMBO, athletes will compete in the following weight categories:
Cadets girls: 41, 44, 47, 50, 54, 59, 65, 72 and +72kg.
Cadets boys: 46, 49, 53, 58, 64, 71, 79, 88 and +88kg.
Youth women: 47, 50, 54, 59, 65, 72, 80 and +80kg.
Youth men: 53, 58, 64, 71, 79, 88, 98 and +98kg.
Juniors women: 50, 54, 59, 65, 72, 80 and +80kg.
Juniors men: 58, 64, 71, 79, 88, 98 and +98kg.
In Combat SAMBO, the Juniors men’s categories are 58, 64, 71, 79, 88, 98 and +98kg.
The World Championships will be broadcast live via sambo.live.
