Over 300 Participants at the Venezuelan Youth and Junior SAMBO Championships

From September 17 to 20, the “Hermanos Polanco” sports hall in Maracay (Aragua State) became the epicenter of thrilling and uncompromising competition. It was here that the Venezuelan Youth and Junior SAMBO Championships took place, bringing together 311 athletes from 13 states across the country.

“The tournament pursued two main objectives: promoting the sport among the youngest age groups and developing the skills of promising young athletes. Competitors represented a wide range of categories – from the youngest ‘Children A’ (ages 6-8) to the more experienced ‘Juniors’ (ages 19-20) – demonstrating continuity and a well-structured system of nurturing future talent. Over the course of four competition days, a total of 105 bouts were held in both Sport SAMBO and Combat SAMBO,” noted the tournament’s organizing committee.

The championship drew athletes from across much of Venezuela. The largest delegations came from Aragua, Barinas, and Apure. In the team standings, the hosts from Aragua dominated the competition, securing a confident first place with a 24-medal lead. Their final tally reached 57 medals (25 gold, 18 silver, and 14 bronze).

Strong performances also came from Falcón, who finished second with 33 medals, and Barinas, who placed third with 29 medals – both showcasing high skill and determination to win. Every participating delegation earned a place in the medal table, highlighting the broad competitiveness of SAMBO in Venezuela.

“The 2025 Venezuelan Youth and Junior Championships provided yet more proof that our country is one of the leaders in SAMBO development across the Pan American region. The tournament in Maracay was not only about victories and medals – it also became a forge of new talent for future international competitions,” the Venezuelan SAMBO Federation emphasized.