The New Zealand SAMBO Federation held the national championship and summed up the results of the sports year

The New Zealand SAMBO Championship was held in December in Auckland. Competitions in Sport and Combat SAMBO were organized at the EVENTFINDA Auckland arena and became a stage of selection for the national team to participate in international tournaments in 2025.

The national championship became the final point of the New Zealand SAMBO Federation events in the current season. As the president of the organization Sergey Permitin said, in 2024, a series of SAMBO tournaments was launched in the country, among which he singled out the Auckland Open and Wakato Open.

"The outgoing year was successful for the national federation. Our team won two bronze medals at the Asian and Oceania SAMBO Championships, which took place in Macau in June. We devoted a lot of time to the education of specialists: three coaches were trained at FIAS seminars and received international qualifications of the corresponding degree. We also managed to hold a series of master classes and seminars for national-level coaches and referees, including the territories of the regions that are new to us,” Sergey Permitin said.

The head of New Zealand SAMBO added that during the year, in addition to those already in operations, three more sports clubs began developing SAMBO in the country.

“In the near future, a SAMBO club in the Central Otago region (Cromwell) will open its doors to children and adults under the coaching guidance of Andrey Pimenov. Next in line are Whangarei and Christchurch, where there is interest and great potential for the development of SAMBO,” noted Permitin.

Incidentally, it was Andrey Pimenov, who became the New Zealand champion in the 79 kg weight category, who was recognized as the best sambist of the national championship. An active athlete, he also actively shows himself as a SAMBO coach.

“I remember how I ran to training as a child, happy to have the opportunity to wrestle in the gym with the guys. Now I want to bring the same joy to New Zealand athletes. In close cooperation and with the support of the President of the New Zealand SAMBO Federation Sergey Permitin, I am opening my own SAMBO club on the southern island of New Zealand. I am sure that with joint efforts we will be able to popularize and develop this wonderful sport,” Andrey Pimenov said.

The plans of the national federation for the next year include participation in major international competitions, where athletes will try to get even more medals for the New Zealand team. And, of course, to continue spreading SAMBO throughout various parts of the country.