Online Sambo Cup (Africa) Results and Interviews of the Finalists

The first ever Online Sambo Cup, where African SAMBO representatives competed, was held on June 27. The competition was attended by 11 athletes who fought among themselves for a cash prize from the FIAS general partner, Rosneft oil company. Following the results of all the fights, sambist from Congo Mauve Binocha Mahongou and athlete from Côte d'Ivoire Mohamed Camara reached the final. In the decisive battle, the Congo athlete became the winner of the tournament. After the match the finalists shared their emotions in an interview with the FIAS website.

Mauve Binocha MAHOUNGOU (Congo), winner of the Online SAMBO Cup (Africa):

“Today I am happy, because I really wanted to win! Over the course of several days, I was intensively preparing for the tournament, studying techniques, especially the positions of the athletes’ arms, legs, grips and all that stuff. I immediately recognized the technique that was concealed behind the game cards in the final match, as I myself was using it repeatedly in training and competitions.

I enjoyed the format of the tournament itself, it is very lively and congenial, the keep-fit exercises that sambists ought to perform during a match add a sports value to this intellectual format.

During my first match with an athlete from Mauritius, I got a dance card. I was happy to perform our national dance on camera, it is very popular with us in Brazzaville, the capital of the Congo, and throughout the whole country”.

Mohamed CAMARA (Côte d'Ivoire), a finalist of the Online SAMBO Cup (Africa):

“Despite my defeat in the finals, I am pleased with my performance, and I gained a really fascinating and useful experience. Surely, I’m a little upset as I lost, mainly due to the connectivity issues, and not because I did not know the correct answer. But it’s fine, and my participation in the Super Cup is still ahead. It would really be awesome to win it against all the best athletes from around the world!

I wish to thank FIAS for this marvelous initiative that helps athletes stay in good competitive shape during the lockdown and enjoy participating in such online tournaments.

I wish you all good luck and see you in the super-finals!”.

Results of the Online Sambo Cup (Africa)

Online SAMBO Cup will be conducted in a series of stages: June 20-21 — on the European continent, June 27 — in Africa, July 4-5 — in Asia, July 11-12 — in the Americas. By the results of the continental tournaments, it is planned to stage super finals, in which the finalists of the continental stages will partake. These superfinals are scheduled for July 18.

The cash prize at the continental stages of the Online SAMBO Cup amounts to: 500 USD for the 1st place; 250 USD for the 2nd place, and 100 USD for the 3rd places (2 winners). In the finals of the Rosneft Cup, the amount of cash prizes will increase: 1000 USD for the 1st place; 750 USD for the 2nd place, and 300 USD for the 3rd places (2 winners).

Everyone interested will be able to watch the matches broadcast on the FIAS web resources, such as the official FIAS website www.sambo.sport, Facebook and the SAMBOFIAS Youtube channel. General partner of the event is Rosneft oil company.