5 reasons why the debut of the Blind SAMBO discipline at the World Championships was a great success

Blind SAMBO debuted in the program of the World SAMBO Championships. The historic event took place in Astana (Kazakhstan) during the main start of the year in the calendar of the International SAMBO Federation. The debut was loud and spectacular, and the resonance from the performance of courageous athletes sounds even after the end of the tournament. The FIAS website, together with the Chairman of the FIAS Commission on Athletes with Disabilities Roman Novikov, highlighted 5 reasons why the debut of the Blind SAMBO discipline at the World Championships was a great success.

1. On an equal footing with everyone else

Sambists with health restrictions (class SVI-1, totally blind) took part in the tournament on an equal footing with other athletes, becoming an example of courage and resilience under any circumstances for spectators and participants of the competition.

"It is important that the blind sambists competed in the general program of the World Championships, and this is a high indicator of the organizational work. For the guys themselves, this is of great importance, because in this way they are actively involved in the current community of sambists and feel themselves athletes like everyone else. I believe it is necessary for blind athletes to also compete in continental SAMBO championships and many other competitions that are included in the FIAS calendar," said Roman Novikov.

2. Wide geography of participants

Representatives of 12 countries from four continents of the world: Africa, Asia, Europe, and Pan-America competed at the debut World SAMBO Championships for blind sambists.

"And this is only the first step, in the future the number of countries and participants should only grow. I believe that blind sambists deserve to compete on the same mats with recognized world sambists. We received a lot of feedback that fans from different countries were closely following the bouts of their athletes at the Blind SAMBO Tournament. For some SAMBO fans, the guys' performances became motivation to forget all the excuses and start practicing SAMBO themselves," Novikov said.

3. SAMBO Level

For many, it was a revelation that Blind SAMBO wrestlers have a large arsenal of techniques and demonstrate a high level of wrestling. Not only the spectators in the hall and at the screens during the broadcast admired them, but world-class athletes and coaches also gave their high marks to what was happening on the mats.

"The blind athletes demonstrated a very high level of wrestling, and the strongest and best-trained sambists really reached the finals. As the finalists themselves told me after the bouts, they experienced very exciting, but at the same time positive emotions from the atmosphere that reigned in the hall during the decisive bouts. The guys have written their names in gold in the history of the discipline of Blind SAMBO,” continued the head of the FIAS Commission for Athletes with Disabilities.

The first ever world champions in the discipline of Blind SAMBO in all three weight categories were athletes representing the FIAS 1 team: Andrey Demidov (-64 kg), Viktor Rudenko (-79 kg), Pavel Selivanov (-98 kg).

4. The work of national SAMBO federations and FIAS support

The past World SAMBO Championships for blind athletes was the result of the enormous work done by the team led by Roman Novikov over 15 years. He said that the path was thorny and difficult, but it was possible to pass it thanks to faith in success and support from people who believed in this idea.

“I want to thank FIAS President Vasily Shestakov and all the employees of the International SAMBO Federation for their comprehensive assistance in the rapid promotion and development of the discipline of Blind SAMBO. Without this man and his team, such a powerful leap forward would not have been possible! "– Roman Novikov said.

He also noted the national SAMBO federations that began active work with blind sambists.

"I am grateful to every president, every coach, every employee of the federations for their help and assistance in this work. I really hope that every year more and more national SAMBO federations will get involved in the development of the Blind SAMBO discipline, because in every country in the world there are blind young guys and girls who need to be attracted and infected with the idea of ​​​​SAMBO," Novikov added.

Speaking about the championship held in Astana, the head of the FIAS Commission for Athletes with Disabilities emphasized the high level of organization of the tournament.

"I would like to note the Kazakhstan Federation of Sport and Combat SAMBO for the high level of organization of the World SAMBO Championships: the organizers did everything for the blind athletes to comfortably prepare for the competition," Roman Novikov said.

5. Exhibition about Blind SAMBO at the World Championships

As part of the World SAMBO Championships, an exhibition entitled “The History of the Development of Blind SAMBO” was held, prepared by the SAMBO of the Blind Charity Foundation.

The exhibition featured stands with historical photographs, and a film entitled “Blind SAMBO: from the First Training to the World Championships” was shown on a large screen throughout the exhibition. The film consisted of archival video footage and also reflected the history of the development of Blind SAMBO.

The stand featured tactile aids on SAMBO technique for blind sambists, and any visitor to the exhibition could “see with their hands” what SAMBO wrestling looks like.

“Of course, I want to say that this exhibition was visited by honored guests: the President of the International SAMBO Federation Vasily Shestakov and the legendary sambist, SAMBO Ambassador to the World Fedor Emelianenko. They got acquainted with the exhibition, after which we were able to discuss the prospects for the development of this discipline in the world. Our team was happy to meet such legendary personalities and get feedback from them,” said Roman Novikov.

Prospects

SAMBO for the Blind and Visually Impaired will continue to develop in the world and invites all caring people to join it on this journey.

“I want to address the blind and visually impaired all over the world. Do SAMBO, go to the gym, train – the world of SAMBO is open to you! It is important to always remember that champions are not born, champions become champions through overcoming difficulties, and the world of SAMBO will definitely help you with this!” said Roman Novikov, Chairman of the FIAS Commission for Athletes with Disabilities.