4th Korea Open SAMBO Championships Held in Cheonan

The 4th Korea Open SAMBO Championships took place on 14 September in the city of Cheonan, Republic of Korea. The mats of the Korea SAMBO Center hosted intense bouts in both Sport SAMBO and Combat SAMBO, bringing together around 120 athletes from 12 countries.

The tournament also served as a qualifying event for the upcoming World SAMBO Championships in Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), adding extra intrigue and raising the level of competition.

In his welcome address, President of the International SAMBO Federation (FIAS) Vasily Shestakov highlighted the growing importance of the tournament:

“This championship grows stronger every year and is becoming an increasingly anticipated event on the international calendar, uniting athletes from all over the world under the SAMBO banner. I wish all participants fair competition and bright victories, and to the spectators – unforgettable emotions and the chance to fully enjoy the beauty and philosophy of SAMBO.”

President of the Korea SAMBO Federation Songchon Mun emphasized the tournament’s role as a milestone for the sport’s further development:

“I hope this championship becomes a springboard for a new breakthrough for SAMBO and a place where athletes from all over the world can come together.”

He called on the athletes to showcase the skills they have honed through hard work and dedication:

“May these competitions become a cherished memory you will carry with you for the rest of your lives,” said Mun in his address to the participants.

According to the organizers, interest in SAMBO in Korea has been growing rapidly year by year, and hosting an international tournament of this level marks an important step in promoting the sport across East Asia.