Balkan SAMBO Championship Brings Together More Than 150 Athletes in Kozani

On August 29-30, the Greek city of Kozani hosted the Balkan SAMBO Championship. More than 150 athletes from five countries – Greece, Moldova, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina – competed at the Vasilis Flegkas Municipal Sports Hall in Lefkovrysi.

Two Days of Intense Competition

“Over the two days of competition, young athletes showed strong technical preparation and a real will to win. The bouts were marked by fierce intensity and sharp technical action, once again confirming that SAMBO in the Balkans rests on solid traditions and holds significant potential for further growth,” the tournament's organizing committee said in a statement.

The championship was organized by the Balkan SAMBO Association and the Hellenic SAMBO Federation, with support from local authorities. The official opening ceremony brought together national delegations, representatives of sports organizations, and tournament guests.

A Special Part of the Program

A dedicated place in the tournament programme was given to children from the “SAMBO for the Development of Children with Special Educational Needs” project. The young participants had the chance to step onto the mat and demonstrate their skills – their courage and genuine joy drew applause from spectators and respect from everyone present.

Next Host Announced

On August 28, ahead of the competition, the Balkan SAMBO Association held its Congress, where representatives of the national federations discussed the organization's development and upcoming sporting calendar.

The meeting concluded with a decision: the next Balkan SAMBO Championship will take place from November 17-19, 2027, in Chișinău, Republic of Moldova.

Balkan SAMBO Association President Dimitar Dimitrov highlighted the strong level of competition and the large number of young athletes at the Kozani tournament:

“Kozani showed the true strength of Balkan SAMBO: many young athletes, strong competition, and mutual respect among all participants.”