National SAMBO Tournament In Mexico Became A Rehearsal For The 2018 Pan-American Championships

Acapulco hosted the V Mexican SAMBO Championships named after Victor Dmitriev. These competitions were pretty much a qualifier for the 2018 Pan-American Championships as the winners and prize-takers are likely to become part of the national team. The tournament was held on May 19 at the Jai Alai Acapulco arena. It is at this sports complex that the strongest sambists from various countries will gather in July, to participate in the continental championships.

According to Antonio Ramirez Rebollar, president of the SAMBO and Combat SAMBO Association of Mexico, the national competitions have become a kind of rehearsal for the continental championships. The tournament was attended by 105 athletes representing 11 teams: 7 states (Guanajuato, Baja California, Querétaro, Tamaulipas, Chiapas, Guerrero, and Estado de México), Mexico City, and 3 universities (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, and Universidad Autónoma Chapingo).

‘In the course of the tournament, we’ve managed to implement a lot of ideas on holding competitions that we’re going to apply when organizing the continental championships. We’ve also spotted those points that we need to pay more attention to, in preparation for the Pan-American Championships,’ remarked Antonio Ramirez Rebollar. ‘Besides, we managed to select the athletes who will form the backbone of the Mexican national team at the forthcoming tournament. I'm certain that all of them will try to prove themselves at the Pan-American Championships held on home grounds.’

[VIDEO] Mexican SAMBO Championships named after Victor Dmitriev

Team Standings of the V Mexican SAMBO Championships named after Victor Dmitriev

Women

1. Querétaro State

2. Estado de México, Federal District

3. The State of Guanajuato

Men

1. The State of Guerrero

2. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM

3. Querétaro State

Combat Sambo

1. The State of Guanajuato

2. Estado de México, Federal District

3. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM

[PHOTO] Mexican SAMBO Championships named after Victor Dmitriev