Honduras Hosts 4th Jovany Varela National SAMBO Championship

On March 30, the 4th Jovany Varela National SAMBO Championship was held in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras. The tournament took place at the Villa Olímpica sports complex and brought together over 100 athletes from across the country.

Competitors vied for medals in both Sport SAMBO and Combat SAMBO disciplines. The bouts featured men and women across three age categories: cadets, youth, and adults.

"The tournament was a true celebration for SAMBO fans and once again confirmed the growing interest in this sport throughout Latin America," said representatives of the Honduran SAMBO Federation.

Among the honored guests at the event were Uvaldo Zavala, President of the Honduran National Olympic Committee, and Dani Reyes, President of the Honduran Boxing Federation. Their presence underscored the tournament's significance within the national sporting landscape.

As per tradition, Jovany Varela himself – one of the leading advocates and promoters of SAMBO in the region – attended the event. Under his guidance, the Honduran national team was formed, which will represent the country at international competitions in 2025.

During the opening ceremony, the Honduran SAMBO Federation presented honorary certificate to Olympic Committee President Uvaldo Zavala. The athletes and organizers also paid tribute to Salvador Jiménez Cáceres, former President of the Honduran NOC, who passed away in January 2025.

"The Jovany Varela Championship once again confirmed its crucial role in the development of SAMBO in Central America and marked another important step in strengthening the international standing of the Honduran team," the Federation emphasized.