Novi Sad to Host the 2026 European Youth and Junior SAMBO Championships

The Serbian city of Novi Sad will host the European Youth and Junior SAMBO Championships from April 21 to 23. The tournament will take place at the SPENS sports complex.

Participation is open to national SAMBO federations affiliated with both the International SAMBO Federation (FIAS) and the European SAMBO Federation (ESF). Each federation may enter no more than one athlete per weight category. Medals will be contested in Sport SAMBO and Combat SAMBO across the following age groups and weight categories:

Age Groups and Weight Categories

Juniors (M&W) (born 2006-2008, ages 18-20):

Sport SAMBO Men: 58, 64, 71, 79, 88, 98, +98 kg

Sport SAMBO Women: 50, 54, 59, 65, 72, 80, +80 kg

Combat SAMBO Men: 58, 64, 71, 79, 88, 98, +98 kg

Youth (M&W) (born 2008-2010, ages 16-18):

Sport SAMBO Men: 53, 58, 64, 71, 79, 88, 98, +98 kg

Sport SAMBO Women: 47, 50, 54, 59, 65, 72, 80, +80 kg

Youth athletes born in 2008 may be admitted to junior competitions. In such cases, registration in the FIAS Database must be completed separately for each age category. An athlete may not compete in both Sport SAMBO and Combat SAMBO at the same event.

Weigh-ins for the youth category will be held on April 20, with competition in those categories taking place on April 21 – the same day as the Opening Ceremony. Junior competitions will run across April 22 and 23. Finals and medal ceremonies will be held each evening following the preliminary bouts.

The draw will be conducted automatically via the FIAS Electronic System. Sport SAMBO follows a group stage format with elimination and repechage from the finalists; Combat SAMBO uses straight elimination with no repechage. The team medal standings will be tracked unofficially, following the Olympic principle.

Anti-doping testing will be conducted in accordance with FIAS Anti-Doping Rules and the WADA Code. Athlete registration is carried out through the FIAS Database at fms.sambo.sport.

You can find full information about the event in the regulations of the tournament in the FIAS calendar: European Youth and Junior SAMBO Championships 2026