Arman Avanesyan Honored with Special Award at The World Games in Chengdu

At The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, China, Armenian sambist Arman Avanesyan received a special award after previously being named The World Games Athlete of the Month. The ceremony took place during the Combat SAMBO tournament and became one of the highlights of the Games program.

The award and commemorative diploma were presented to Avanesyan by Vasily Shestakov, President of the International SAMBO Federation (FIAS), and José Perurena, President of the International World Games Association (IWGA). Fittingly, the honor was given on the very day Avanesyan won The World Games gold medal in the men’s 98 kg category, reaffirming his status as one of the strongest fighters in the world.

Following his final bout, Avanesyan reflected on the significance of the season: “This is my year of victories: I won the European Championships, The World Games, and – most importantly – my son was born. This is truly a special moment in my life.”

The SAMBO competitions in Chengdu marked a historic milestone. SAMBO was the only new sport added to The World Games 2025 program compared to the previous edition in Birmingham. For the first time in 32 years, Combat SAMBO was included in the official TWG program. Previously, SAMBO featured only in its Sport SAMBO format, in 1985 and 1993.

For the International SAMBO Federation, participation in The World Games carries particular significance. Since becoming a full member of the International World Games Association (IWGA) in 2021, FIAS has seen the inclusion of SAMBO in TWG as recognition of the sport’s alignment with the highest international standards.