Chile hosted a SAMBO Tournament in Memory of Alexander Pushnitsa

Chilean sambists held a tournament dedicated to the memory of the recently deceased Alexander Mikhailovich Pushnitsa, a legend of the world SAMBO, whom more than one generation of athletes from different parts of the world looked up to. According to the Chilean National Sports Federation of Sambo and Martial Arts, the event was conceived as an act of respect for the outstanding sambist and recognition of the unprecedented legacy he left in the history of SAMBO.

The tournament took place on February 25 in the commune of Huechuraba, located in the metropolitan province of Santiago. The audience saw beautiful fights performed by Chilean athletes in both Sport and Combat SAMBO.

“We all came together to posthumously pay tribute to a great champion and an outstanding person with a big heart. Summing up his life is not an easy task, his deeds and victories leave no one indifferent, they go beyond the usual and are an example for future generations of sambists around the world to follow, – said Nelson Romero, President of the Chilean National Sports Federation of Sambo and Martial Arts.

He also said that at the 2017 World SAMBO Championships in Sochi, Chilean sambists were lucky enough to meet and talk with Alexander Pushnitsa in person. At the same time, a photograph of the legendary athlete was taken, which Chilean sambists want to share with the entire world SAMBO community.

Alexander Pushnitsa is the most titled Soviet sambist. He has three victories at the World Championships (1974, 1979, 1983), twice he won the World Cup (1977, 1980) and twice won the European Championships (1976, 1984). Pushnitsa nine times became the champion of the USSR (1974-1980, 1983, 1984). For 15 years he was the permanent captain of the Soviet Union SAMBO team.