Three Continents on One Mat: Vilnius Hosts 18th Dr. Pranciškus Eigminas Memorial

Early December brought sambists from around the world to Vilnius. The 18th International Dr. Pranciškus Eigminas Memorial SAMBO Tournament drew over 120 athletes from 14 countries representing Europe, Asia, and Africa. The competition showcased a perfect blend of elite athleticism and sporting unity.

Tournament Geography and Scale

This year's competition on Lithuanian mats was fiercer than ever. Athletes battled for medals from the following countries: Armenia, Cameroon, Finland, Georgia, Great Britain, Israel, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Turkey and Ukraine.

“This tournament is a longstanding and important tradition for our community,” noted Dr. Linas Občarskas, President of the Lithuanian SAMBO Federation. “Its status on the ESF calendar allows us to attract world-class athletes of international caliber. The intense competition makes the matches spectacular and the victories truly meaningful.”

To ensure objectivity and a high level of refereeing, the federation organized a refereeing seminar on the eve of the tournament, which was led by experienced referee and vice-president of the Lithuanian SAMBO Federation, Feliksas Jankauskas.

The 2025 tournament will be remembered for several inspiring success stories.

Gold from Cameroon

According to the organizing committee, one of the standout moments was the performance of Tonnis Blaise Njaju Ngemo. The Cameroonian athlete, who currently lives and studies in Vilnius, displayed powerful combat sambo technique and deservedly claimed the top spot on the podium.

A Legend's Return

Lithuanian fans paid special attention to Osvaldas Bareikis, bronze medalist in judo at the Paralympic Games. After undergoing surgery, Osvaldas chose the Eigminas Memorial as his platform for returning to elite competition. After three grueling matches, he captured silver in the under-79 kg weight class.

“For me, this is an important step on the road to the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles,” the athlete shared.

Mastery Across Disciplines

Young Lithuanian athlete Matas Jaugelis (19) was a true revelation of the tournament. He delivered an outstanding performance, earning two medals in different disciplines: gold in Combat SAMBO and bronze in Sport SAMBO.

Passing the Torch

Organizers gave special attention to the sport's future. Immediately after the final matches of the main competition, the youngest participants took to the mats.

“The Lithuanian Federation is committed to developing sambo from an early age, instilling values of fair competition in children. That's why we incorporated youth educational matches into the larger tournament,” stated the competition's organizing committee.

Tournament Results

The 18th Dr. Prancishkus Eigminas Memorial was held with the participation of legendary veterans and world-class referees.

“Once again, the tournament proved that sambo knows no borders. It's a global sport that unites continents, inspires young athletes, and gives experienced masters another chance to taste victory,” said the Lithuanian SAMBO Federation in their statement.

Winners of the 18th International Dr. Pranciškus Eigminas Memorial SAMBO Tournament

Sport SAMBO – women

50 kg – Angelina Cikovkina (Lithuania)

59 kg – Paula Beorlegui (Spain)

72 kg – Gabija Verkauskaitė (Lithuania)

+72 kg – Danielle Batt (Great Britain)

Sport SAMBO – men

58 kg – Edgaras Kozlovas (Lithuania)

64 kg – Javier Lassa Iglesias (Spain)

71 kg – Nidijus Kasparavičius (Lithuania)

79 kg – Mindaugas Veržbickas (Lithuania)

88 kg – Donatas Juozėnas (Lithuania)

+88 kg – Thomas Humphrey (Great Britain)

Combat SAMBO – men

71 kg – Tonnis Blaise Njaju Ngemo (Cameroon)

88 kg – Matas Jaugelis (Lithuania)

+88 kg – Kacper Edward Rutkowski (Poland)

Cadets

+64 kg (girls) – Roberta Kondrotaitė (Lithuania)

+64 kg (boys) – Gabrielius Vilčinskas (Lithuania)