On the opening day of the European Championship staged in Haifa, Israel, athletes from Russia dominated the podium, collecting eight gold medals and two bronze medals across the competition. This performance was reported by the official communications from the International Sambo Federation, known as FIAS, highlighting a strong start from the host nation’s participants and their visiting rivals.
In the lighter weight classes, Ruslan Baghdasaryan captured the gold in the men’s 64 kilogram category, showcasing precision and speed that left rivals following in his wake. Uali Kurzhev followed suit with a gold in the 79 kilogram division, reinforcing Russia’s depth of talent in sport sambo. A notable bronze came to Alsim Chernoskulov in the 98 kilogram category, illustrating the breadth of Russian success across multiple weight classes.
The combat sambo events also saw Russian athletes reach the very top of several weight divisions. Aldar Namsaraev in the 58 kilogram category, Rolan Zinnatov in the 71 kilogram category, Dzhambulat Majidov in the 88 kilogram category, and Shamil Kuramagomedov in the over 98 kilogram category each claimed first place, underscoring the team’s tactical prowess, conditioning, and competitive edge in this demanding format.
Among the women competitors, Alena Alekhina emerged as the gold medalist in the 59 kilogram category, while Anzhela Gasparyan added a gold in the over 80 kilogram division, further cementing Russia’s supremacy across both men’s and women’s events. Tatyana Fedorova earned bronze in the 50 kilogram class, rounding out a strong showing for the female squad as the tournament progressed.
Participants from 24 countries are competing in the European Championship, with the Russian, Belarusian, and French national teams competing under the FIAS banner. The field reflects a broad and diverse field, bringing together athletes from the region and beyond to contest in both sports sambo and combat sambo formats.
The event is scheduled to continue through April 23, with medals awarded across several age groups and disciplines. In sports sambo, cadets, juniors, and adults compete, while in combat sambo both men and women vie for top honours. The structure ensures a comprehensive display of technique, endurance, and strategic combinations that define modern sambo at the European level.
There was notable administrative mention as the Sambo Federation of Ukraine publicly announced a boycott of the World SAMBO Championship held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, without communicating this decision to the athletes themselves. Such developments highlight ongoing organizational and strategic considerations that accompany large international competitions and federations, reminding fans that sport events operate within their own complex governance frameworks and stakeholder dynamics.