Blind SAMBO Makes Its World Cup Debut in Armenia

More opportunities for visually impaired athletes: in April 2026, Blind SAMBO will be included in the FIAS World Cup program for the first time.

Blind SAMBO is gaining momentum on the international stage. The discipline made its debut at the 2024 World SAMBO Championships in Astana, where men competed in three weight categories. A year later, the format was repeated at the World Championships in Bishkek, and the competitions demonstrated that visually impaired athletes deserve more opportunities to showcase their skills.

In 2025, the International SAMBO Federation received recognition from the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), which granted FIAS the status of IPC Recognized International Federation. This recognition highlighted the federation's commitment to developing SAMBO as an inclusive sport for blind and visually impaired athletes.

Now comes the next step forward. In 2026, women will join the World SAMBO Championships program, competing in two weight categories. But that's not all – FIAS has included Blind SAMBO in the World Cup program, which will take place April 11-12 in Yerevan, Armenia. Athletes from different countries will gather to compete for medals and prove that visual impairment is no barrier to achieving excellence in SAMBO.

“We're convinced that every athlete deserves the opportunity to compete at the highest level,” said FIAS President Vasily Shestakov. “When we included Blind SAMBO in the World Championships program, we witnessed incredible determination and skill from the athletes. IPC recognition confirmed we're on the right track. Now we're creating even more opportunities – because these athletes have earned them through their dedication and talent.”

Shestakov also added that expanding the program means more competitions, more attention, and more chances for visually impaired sambists to achieve their athletic dreams on the international stage.