The European Sambo Championships will be held in the Israeli city of Haifa from April 19 to 23, bringing together top sambo athletes from across Europe. Competitors will include men and women, juniors, cadets, boys, and girls, all pursuing the title of Europe’s strongest sambo athletes. Reports from the All-Russian Sambo Federation’s press service confirm that teams from 24 nations will take part in the event, with Russia leading a strong field alongside Belarus and France who will compete under the FIAS flag.
The championships will feature eight weight categories for men, ranging from 58 kg to plus 98 kg, and a separate eight-weight slate for women, from 50 kg up to plus 80 kg. In addition to traditional sport sambo, both men and women will compete in fighting sambo, expanding the competitive repertoire on display during the week of action.
A notable element of this year’s European Championships is the inclusion of a qualifying tournament designed to select sambists for the World Martial Arts Games scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in October. This adds an extra layer of significance for athletes aiming to secure a spot on a global stage while competing for continental honors.
Looking back at recent history, Russian sambists earned a strong performance at the World Championship held in Bishkek in November 2022. The team captured 13 gold medals, along with 2 silver and 4 bronze, underscoring the depth and depth of talent within Russia’s sambo program.
In contrast to competitive highlight reels, the circuit has also faced somber news with the passing of Alexander Pushnitsa, a three-time world champion in sambo, a loss felt across the sport and among fans who followed his remarkable career. These Championships occur at a moment when European sambo is showcasing depth, resilience, and a renewed drive to elevate the sport on the world stage, while serving as a proving ground for athletes who aspire to compete at the World Martial Arts Games and other premier international events.