Sri Lanka in Line to Host South Asia SAMBO Championships

A high-level meeting held in Colombo has marked a significant step forward in the development of SAMBO across South Asia.

Suresh Gopi, Secretary General of the SAMBO Union of Asia & Oceania (SUAO), joined by Dinesh Jaysinghe, President of the SAMBO Federation Sri Lanka (SFSL), and SFSL Secretary General Damyanthi Premarathna, met with Sri Lanka's Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Sunil Kumara Gamage.

During the meeting, Suresh Gopi outlined the momentum behind SAMBO's growth across the Asian continent, while the national federation representatives shared their vision for bringing a major international competition to Sri Lanka. Their proposal – to host the South Asia Regional SAMBO Championships in Colombo, alongside a referee and coaches certification seminar – received the Minister's full backing.

The parties also held an in-depth discussion on the broader prospects for SAMBO development in the country, including the participation of Sri Lankan athletes in international competitions. The most immediate opportunity on the horizon is the World SAMBO Cup in Armenia, set to take place on April 11-12 in Yerevan.