Belgium Open SAMBO Championship Held in Peer

The Belgium Open SAMBO 2026 tournament took place on May 23 in the Belgian city of Peer. The competition was held at Sporthal Agnetencollege and brought together around 150 athletes across various age categories.

“The tournament is one of the notable open events on the European calendar and reflects the growing interest in SAMBO throughout the region,” the Belgian SAMBO Federation said in a statement.

The event attracted representatives of sports clubs and national federations from several European countries. Alongside a strong contingent from the host nation, athletes from France, the Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain, and other countries competed on the mats.

The Belgium Open SAMBO 2026 competition program was structured to include different age groups, weight categories, and both SAMBO disciplines – Sport SAMBO and Combat SAMBO.

The tournament began with bouts among children, cadets, and youth athletes. In the boys’ 8-10 age category, medals were contested in weight classes ranging from 30 kg to 38 kg. Athletes aged 11-14 competed in several divisions, including up to 35 kg, 42 kg, 46 kg, and 53 kg, as well as over 64 kg and over 79 kg.

A separate section of the program was dedicated to cadets (14-16 years old) and youth athletes (16-18 years old). Competitors in these age groups participated in weight categories ranging from 44 kg to 98 kg and above for both males and females. According to the organizers, these divisions are traditionally regarded as an important stage in the development of future participants in top-level international competitions.

Adult competitions were held during the second half of the day. In Sport SAMBO, women competed in the 65 kg weight category. Men contested medals in the 64 kg, 71 kg, 79 kg, 88 kg, and 98 kg divisions, as well as the over 98 kg category. In Combat SAMBO, men competed in the 64 kg, 71 kg, 79 kg, and 88 kg weight categories, along with the over 98 kg division.

According to the organizers, the Combat SAMBO contests in the men’s 79 kg and over 98 kg categories attracted the greatest attention from spectators.

The tournament was organized with the support of the sports authorities of the city of Peer and national organizations involved in the development of SAMBO in Belgium. The Belgian SAMBO Federation noted that hosting competitions for athletes ranging from eight-year-old beginners to high-level adult competitors contributes to the continued growth of SAMBO in the country and strengthens Belgium’s position as a venue for international SAMBO events.