Cuenca Hosts Ecuador's First National SAMBO Tournament for Children and Teens

Ecuador's first National SAMBO Tournament for children and teenagers took place on August 15 at the arena of the Azuay Sports Federation in Cuenca. The event brought together young athletes aged 5 to 17, with the program rounded out by a Combat SAMBO workshop for adults.

The day opened with the educational session in Combat SAMBO, drawing representatives from several clubs and academies across Cuenca. Competition in the children's and youth categories followed, with athletes from 5 to 17 years old taking to the mat.

Athletes from the local “Naga” and “Muttare” academies made their debut at the tournament, putting their skills to the test in an atmosphere of healthy competition, camaraderie, and shared sporting experience.

The event was organized by the Ecuadorian SAMBO Federation, led by Francisco Ortíz Veloz, with support from José Zúñiga, an athlete who has represented both the Azuay provincial team and Ecuador's national SAMBO squad at Pan American and World-level competitions.

“It's essential for the Ecuadorian SAMBO Federation to build platforms like this starting from the youngest age groups. Sport doesn't just build physical and technical skills – it shapes character, discipline, and life values that help kids in every area of their lives. We want more young people to find in SAMBO a positive path for growth, learning, and achieving their goals,” the federation said.

Organizers added that the first national tournament marked an important step in developing youth SAMBO in Ecuador, giving athletes the chance to gain competitive experience from an early age.

“The Ecuadorian SAMBO Federation will keep expanding initiatives like this to other provinces, working to make the sport more accessible, strengthen the youth training system, and open up new places to train,” the national federation said in a statement.

Through such events, the federation aims to send a positive message to the younger generation, promoting sport as a tool for self-discipline, social integration, upbringing, and personal growth.

“Our main goal is to keep growing SAMBO's popularity in Ecuador, so more young people see in the sport a chance to build a future based on hard work, discipline, and the drive to succeed,” the federation added.