Armenia won three medals on the first day of the 2026 World Junior Sambo Championships
- Author: Vahe Hakobyan
- Sportaran
The 2026 SAMBO World Championships for cadets, youth and juniors have kicked off in Thessaloniki, Greece. On the opening day of competition at the PAOK Sports Arena, medals were awarded in all U18 (16–18 years old) weight categories.
Armenia made a successful start to the tournament, winning three medals — two silver and one bronze.
Armenia’s medals
Narek Simonyan (58 kg) — silver
Hakob Umrshadyan (64 kg) — silver
Gor Shatveryan (71 kg) — bronze
In the 58 kg category, Simonyan reached the final, where Ali Tsey of Russia claimed the gold medal. Umrshadyan also advanced to the final in the 64 kg division, with Russia’s Nikita Streltsov taking first place.
Shatveryan finished on the third step of the podium in the 71 kg category. Amin Ermolaev of Russia became world champion in the division, while Georgia’s Luka Nanava won silver.
On the second day of the World Championships, October 3, medals will be awarded in the U16 (14–16 years old) age category.
The World Championships in Thessaloniki will continue until October 4. A total of 55 sets of medals will be awarded across the cadet, youth and junior categories. Junior Combat SAMBO competitions are also part of the program.