Day One of the 2025 World Sambo Championships: Complete Dominance by Russian Athletes

Today, November 7, the 2025 World Sambo Championships kicked off in Bishkek. The tournament will run until November 9 in the capital of Kyrgyzstan and has brought together the best representatives of this martial art from around the world. Participants will compete for 31 sets of medals in sport sambo, combat sambo, and in the discipline for visually impaired athletes.

On the first day of competition, winners were determined in 10 weight categories, and the clear leader became the team competing under the FIAS 1 flag (Russia). Russian athletes won 9 out of 10 possible gold medals, demonstrating a high level of preparation and confident technique. The only gold not claimed by Russia went to the hosts of the tournament — the Kyrgyz national team pleased their supporters with a victory in the +98 kg men’s sport sambo category.

The Armenian national team also took part in the first competition day; however, the Armenian athletes were unable to reach the medal rounds. Davit Ovsepyan (58 kg), Karlen Makhinyan (71 kg), Anna Ayvazyan (50 kg), Avetik Poghosyan (88 kg), and Mayis Nersesyan (64 kg, combat sambo) each had their bouts but lost at different stages. The closest to fighting for a medal was Nersesyan, who won his first match against a U.S. representative but was defeated by an athlete from Indonesia in the next round.

Results of Day 1 of the World SAMBO Championships 2025

Sport SAMBO - men

58 kg

1. GLADKIKH Vladimir (FIAS 1)

2. ZHUBATKAN Nursultan (KAZ)

3. CHIDRASHVILI Vakhtangi (GEO)

3. KARIMOV Akmaliddin (TJK)

71 kg

1. NASH Rasul (FIAS 1)

2. GRACIA Ibai (ESP)

3. KUATAY Arnur (KAZ)

3. SAYAPIN Uladzislau (FIAS 2)

+98 kg

1. TOKTOGONOV Bekbolot (KGZ)

2. KHAMIDOV Asror (UZB)

3. OSIPENKO Artem (FIAS 1)

3. DAMDINSUREN Purevdorj (MGL)

Sport SAMBO - women

50 kg

1. BARNEVA Margarita (FIAS 1)

2. KAPAYEVA Anfisa (FIAS 2)

3. BAZHAYEVA Margarita (KAZ)

3. BUIOK Mariia (UKR)

65 kg

1. CHEREVAN Karina (FIAS 1)

2. ZHDAN Daniela (FIAS 2)

3. PONCET Charlotte (FRA)

3. MANUSHEVA Anna-mariya (BUL)

+80 kg

1. CHOLOMBITKO Albina (FIAS 1)

2. KANDRATSYEVA Maryia (FIAS 2)

3. SOUZA Priscila (BRA)

3. KEBADZE Elene (GEO)

Combat SAMBO - men

64 kg

1. KHABIBULAEV Sheikh-mansur (FIAS 1)

2. SOLIEV Oybek (UZB)

3. MIKHNO Yauhen (FIAS 2)

3. TUGSBOLD Tsogtbaatar (MGL)

88 kg

1. ALIKHANOV Abusupiyan (FIAS 1)

2. KHASANBOEV Sokhibjon (UZB)

3. NAZARGELDIYEV Abdylla (TKM)

3. EGNATASHVILI Giorgi (GEO)

Combat SAMBO - women

54 kg

1. LOTKOVA Vera (FIAS 1)

2. AYDOGDYYEVA Madina (TKM)

3. SYLVANA Abomo (CMR)

3. USON KYZY Akak (KGZ)

72 kg

1. POLIAKOVA Iana (FIAS 1)

2. NISIMIAN Shaked (ISR)

3. ARUTIUNOVA Valentyna (UKR)

3. SALOKHIDDINOVA Madinabonu (UZB)