World SAMBO Cup Set for Dushanbe as Regulations Are Published

Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, will host one of the key stops on the international calendar, with the World SAMBO Cup taking place on 19-20 September. The competition regulations have been published in the official FIAS website calendar.

Three Disciplines, One Mat

The tournament will bring together Sport SAMBO, Combat SAMBO and Blind SAMBO.

In Sport SAMBO, men and women will contest medals across seven weight categories each: men will compete at 58, 64, 71, 79, 88, 98 and +98 kg, while women will compete at 50, 54, 59, 65, 72, 80 and +80 kg.

Combat SAMBO will feature the same weight categories, though bouts in this discipline are held without a repechage system, making the bracket tougher and every contest decisive.

Blind SAMBO will be contested in the SVI1 sport class, with men competing in three weight categories (64, 79 and 98 kg) and women in two (50 and 59 kg).

Second World Cup to Feature Blind SAMBO

The inclusion of Blind SAMBO in the Dushanbe World Cup marks another milestone in the discipline's international development. Blind SAMBO first featured on the World Cup programme in April 2026 in Yerevan, where athletes with visual impairments had the chance to compete for medals in this format for the first time. The Dushanbe tournament will now become the second World Cup to include the discipline.

The move builds on the federation's ongoing efforts: Blind SAMBO made its debut at the 2024 World SAMBO Championships in Astana, where men competed in three weight categories, before the format was expanded a year later at the World Championships in Bishkek. In 2025, FIAS was granted Recognised International Federation status by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), underlining the federation's commitment to developing SAMBO as an inclusive sport.

"We are convinced that every athlete deserves the chance to compete at the highest level," said FIAS President Vasily Shestakov. "When we introduced the Blind SAMBO discipline at the World Championships, we saw incredible dedication and skill from the athletes. IPC recognition confirmed that we are on the right path. Now we are creating even more opportunities, because these athletes have earned them through their commitment and talent."

Participants and Organization

All national SAMBO federations affiliated with FIAS are invited to take part in the World Cup. Each country may enter up to two athletes per weight category, with each athlete permitted to compete in only one discipline and one weight category. Athletes born in 2008 or earlier are eligible to compete.

The competitions will be held at the Tennis Palace (tennis court and water sports complex) in Dushanbe. Registration is carried out exclusively through the FIAS online system, with the deadline for entries and registration in the FIAS database set at 1 September 2026.

Delegations are due to arrive on 17-18 September, with accreditation, training sessions, a team representatives' meeting and the draw all taking place during this period. Classification of athletes with visual impairments will begin as early as 17 September.

The competitions will be officiated by international category referees, and the draw will once again be conducted openly using FIAS computer software.

Watch the Tournament Live

All bouts of the World SAMBO Cup in Dushanbe will be broadcast live on www.sambo.live. Follow the livestream to catch the world's strongest athletes battling for medals in Sport SAMBO, Combat SAMBO and Blind SAMBO.

Calendar: 2026 World SAMBO Cup - Dushanbe