SAMBO for the Blind and Visually Impaired at the XI Open All-Russian Youth Martial Arts Games

For the first time ever, SAMBO tournament among the blind and visually impaired youth was held in the program of the XI Open All-Russian Youth Martial Arts Games. The competition took place on September 16 in Anapa and assembled the young sambists with sight disabilities from different parts of Russia.

The tournament was attended by representatives of Tatarstan, Dagestan, Bashkortostan, and Krasnodar Krai. According to the organizers, the fights on SAMBO mats happened to be dynamic and pretty determined.

‘Young sambists performed excellently, with great enthusiasm in their every fight. The staging of such competitions as a part of major martial arts festivals is certainly of great importance. Children always need to be among their peers, no matter whether they have vision disabilities or not. We can say that such competitions are a kind of inclusive event,’ claimed the senior coach of the Russian SAMBO for the Blind team Viktor Ignatenko.

The blind and visually impaired sambists from Tatarstan took part in this prestigious tournament for the first time. This was stated by the coach of SAMBO for the Blind of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Nasibullin.

‘Everything over here is organized at a decently high level, and the stands are brimming with spectators. I would also like to mention the very fine gifts that the children received from the International SAMBO Federation and the All-Russian SAMBO Federation. Of course, each participant will remember the awards ceremony, exquisite medals and diplomas of these competitions. I wish to thank President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov for this opportunity to represent our republic here. We plan to come to Anapa again next year, to take part in the SAMBO for the Blind competitions,’ remarked Nasibullin.

The national team of the Republic of Bashkortostan came to the competition in its small lineup yet managed to perform effectively. This was revealed by the team coach Olga Berdysheva.

‘It's so gratifying to look at the happy faces of children, because they got a lot of positive emotions. Anapa is a very good place for such festivals, as the guys can spend their spare time at the seaside. Next year, we plan to come over here in a larger group, " Berdysheva said.

And the team from Dagestan proved to be the most numerous.

‘We are trying to use any given opportunity to participate in SAMBO competitions among the blind and visually impaired. The Ministry of Sports of the Republic of Dagestan assists us in this,’ shared the judo and SAMBO for the Blind coach of the Republic of Dagestan Ruslan Israpilov. ‘Next year, we will definitely come again to participate in this prestigious martial arts festival.’

Roman Novikov, a member of the FIAS Commission for Promotion of SAMBO among the Disabled, highlighted a superb organization of the tournament in terms of comfort and accessibility of the visually impaired.

‘I want to thank the Russian Union of Martial Arts for the opportunity to present the SAMBO for the Blind at the XI Youth Martial Arts Games. We’ve gained very important experience, and we plan to provide the participation of the blind athletes at the Games on a regular basis. And next year we will be excited to take part in this spectacular event again with an expanded team of athletes-participants. We extend our gratitude for an appreciable assistance in the organization of the SAMBO for the Blind tournament as a part of the XI Open Youth Martial Arts Games to an MMA fighter, the owner of the VITYAZ FIGHT sports club chain Edward Filbger, and also to President of the all-Russian "Protection of the Rights of the Disabled" public organization Alexander Ryavkin,’ said Roman Novikov.

Photo: Boris Bukhtiyarov