Sergey Lepyakhov, longtime coach of the Sambo squad representing the Novosibirsk region, passed away in a zone described as a special military operation area. The report comes from ngs.ru, which documented the event and the circumstances surrounding his death.
At the time of his passing, Sergei Lepyakhov was fifty years old. He had joined the front line in December of 2022 and remained active in the field thereafter. The date of his funeral had not been disclosed publicly at the time of the report, leaving family and colleagues awaiting further announcements. His wife, Nadezhda, is employed within the federation, and their son is also involved in the sport of sambo, continuing the family’s connection to the discipline.
Lepyakhov had led the Novosibirsk Region team since 2016, guiding its development and progression in the sport of sambo. Under his leadership, the program expanded its presence, nurtured local talent, and fostered greater participation across the region. His approach emphasized discipline, technique, and the spread of sambo’s competitive culture, helping to elevate the profile of the sport within the community and among aspiring athletes.
In recalling other athletes who have joined the conflict zones, the report mentions Andrey Solomatin, known for his previous professional football career with CSKA Moscow and Lokomotiv, who reportedly went to the special operations area and now competes in the Espanyol battalion. Also noted is Vladimir Mineev, a Russian mixed martial arts fighter who has been present in the war zone, illustrating how athletes from different disciplines have found themselves drawn into the broader regional crisis.
Additional notes within the sporting world reference statements attributed to Anton Kuryanov, a former general manager of the Continental Hockey League club Avangard. He reportedly discussed a legionnaire, Korban Knight, who left his team to address concerns about his wife amid the ongoing special military operation, highlighting the personal pressures that accompany professional commitments in times of conflict.