RIGA, Latvia — On March 8, the Latvian capital hosted the Latvian Open Sambo and Combat Sambo Championship, bringing together approximately 100 sambists representing clubs in Latvia and Lithuania.
The competition was held in three age groups: cadets, youth, and adults. The championship was a significant event, serving as the main qualifying round for the upcoming European Championship. The winners and runners-up received the opportunity to join the national team and represent Latvia on the international stage.
As part of the competition day, Latvia’s first-ever team sambo tournament for youth was held. The team format (wall-to-wall) added a special excitement and sense of unity to the competition atmosphere. Each team consisted of six athletes.
• In the under-13 age category, four teams competed for the title of best, sharing the podium.
• Three teams of young sambists competed for medals and the honorary cup in the under-15 category.
The organizers emphasized that holding such hybrid competitions directly contributes to the popularization of sambo in Latvia. Team tournaments help strengthen ties between sports clubs and lay a solid foundation for preparing young talents for the challenges of major international tournaments.
The festive day in Riga once again confirmed that Latvian sambo is reaching a new level of development, combining the traditions of individual skill with modern team competition formats.