Turkish SAMBO Championship Brings Together Over 400 Athletes in Istanbul

The Turkish SAMBO Championship 2026, covering Junior, Youth, and Senior age categories, was held in Istanbul from April 3 to 5. The event was organized under the auspices of the Turkish Federation of Developing Sports Branches – SAMBO General Coordination and included in the federation's official activity calendar for 2026.

A total of 417 athletes took part in the competition, representing both Sport SAMBO and Combat SAMBO disciplines across men's and women's divisions. General Coordinator Kadir Yusufoğlu noted clear progress compared to the previous year's championship.

“Significant improvements were observed in our championship compared to last year. These improvements are particularly noticeable in both the number of participants and the skill levels of our athletes,” he said.

According to Yusufoğlu, the Turkish SAMBO community is setting ambitious goals at the international level.

“We want to actively participate in international SAMBO activities and take the lead in hosting them. However, to be effective in SAMBO in our country, we first need to have a strong and successful team,” the General Coordinator emphasized.

The federation is currently working to strengthen Turkey's presence on the European and World SAMBO stage, and views national competitions as an essential foundation for that growth.

“The experience we are gaining in our national activities will be useful in the international activities we will carry out in our country,” Yusufoğlu added.

The Turkish Federation expressed its commitment to contributing to the spirit of friendly competition within the broader SAMBO family.