Karin Chameni "I know SAMBO techniques, so I'm never afraid to walk on the streets"

Cameroonian sambist Karin Chameni became the African SAMBO champion in the women's 68 kg weight category. She won her goldmedal at a tournament in Niger held on May 28 and 29. In an interview with the FIAS website, she shared her joy of winning and talked about her love for SAMBO and dislike of dresses and skirts. 

"This is the first time I've competed in the African SAMBO Championships, so this medal means a lot to me. I'm very happy and incredibly proud to make my debut at a continental tournament and win a gold medal," Chameni said. "I started my athletic training with wrestling and then decided to move to SAMBO.  I saw great potential in SAMBO and realized I could do a lot for my country in this sport at the international level."

Chameni said that her opponent in the final was physically stronger. However, she was able to win by using her techniques. 

"I knew more techniques than my opponent," she explained. "Women's SAMBO is growing steadily in Cameroon. We have a lot of girls coming from judo, so we already know quite a bit about technique.  In many ways, I think this explains our dominance in African SAMBO. Each of us also has a lot of experience in competing at international tournaments of various levels, which gives us an advantage and helps us remain the the strongest women's SAMBO team in Africa."

Chameni said that wrestling and SAMBO had a real impact on her daily life. 

"I always feel more comfortable in sportswear. It's much more convenient and I can go and do workouts at any time. I sometimes wear skirts and dresses, but I can't say I get any real pleasure from it," Chameni said. "Fortunately, I've never had to use SAMBO for self defense on the street. But knowing SAMBO techniques makes me feel more confident, so I'm never afraid to walk on the streets."