Vasily SHESTAKOV: “The World Championships in Bishkek demonstrated the global growth and universality of SAMBO”

The 2025 World SAMBO Championships concluded in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, on November 9. Over the course of three days, the world’s strongest athletes from 70 countries competed for 31 sets of medals in Sport SAMBO, Combat SAMBO, and SAMBO for the Blind.

Summing up the results of the tournament, FIAS President Vasily Shestakov emphasized that the Championships in Bishkek clearly reflected the growing international status and universality of SAMBO.

“Hosting the World Championships in Bishkek once again showcased the global expansion and versatility of our sport. We see traditional SAMBO schools becoming stronger, while new nations continue to emerge on the world stage. I am especially proud of the progress in Paralympic SAMBO – the remarkable victories of blind athletes from Iran, Mongolia, and Moldova, who became world champions, prove that SAMBO is truly a sport for everyone, without exception,” said Vasily Shestakov.

The FIAS President also expressed his gratitude to the tournament organizers and partners, noting the exceptional level of the event:

“I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the State Agency for Physical Culture and Sports under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Kyrgyz SAMBO Federation, the entire FIAS team, and of course, our partners – the tournament’s general partner Rosneft and official partner VTB Bank – for their contribution to the organization of this outstanding event.”

According to Shestakov, the World SAMBO Championships in Bishkek became not only a major sporting competition but also an important milestone in the development of the global SAMBO movement. The large number of participants, the high level of performance, and the increasing competitiveness among athletes from different countries all demonstrate that SAMBO is steadily strengthening its position on the world stage.