Vasily Shestakov awarded Fedor Emelianenko with the FIAS gold badge of honor

The President of the International SAMBO Federation Vasily Shestakov awarded the legendary sambist, the SAMBO Ambassador in the world Fedor Emelianenko with an honorary award - the FIAS gold badge of honor, as well as a commemorative plaque. Emelianenko, in turn, gave Shestakov his personalized SAMBO jacket for the museum of the International SAMBO Federation. The ceremonial event took place on November 8 during the opening ceremony of the World SAMBO Championships in Astana (Kazakhstan).

"No one has done as much to popularize SAMBO in the world as Fedor Emelianenko. Today we want to note his enormous contribution to the fact that our favorite sport is becoming increasingly popular. The FIAS gold badge of honor is an award that only outstanding representatives of SAMBO are awarded. Of course, Fedor Emelianenko is a bright representative of this type of people," Vasily Shestakov noted.

Fedor Emelianenko thanked the FIAS President for the high assessment of his work.

"Sambists from all over the world show their respect and trust in Vasily Shestakov. It was during his leadership of the International SAMBO Federation that our favorite sport achieved its greatest success. I hope that my SAMBO jacket will take a worthy place in the FIAS museum and, perhaps, inspire some young guys to practice SAMBO. I will be happy to continue my work as an ambassador of SAMBO in the world," Fedor Emelianenko said.