On the victory roll: Russian SAMBO wrestlers are ready to conquer the World Cup in Dushanbe

Next weekend, September 19-20, the capital of Tajikistan will become the epicenter of world SAMBO for the second year in a row. Dushanbe will host the World Cup, an important international tournament that draws a line under the summer cycle of preparation for the main start of the season — the November World Cup in Uzbekistan. The competition, whose official partner is VTB Bank, will bring together more than 200 of the strongest athletes representing the leading national teams of Europe, Asia, Africa and Panamerica. The Russian national team, which traditionally dominates this type of martial arts, will compete at the World Cup with the strongest squad and under its own flag, and the national anthem will be played in honor of the victories of our athletes.

Getting back to basics

For Russian SAMBO wrestlers, the Dushanbe tournament is not just a prestigious international competition. This is another demonstration of the strength of the national SAMBO school without any legal reservations and neutral abbreviations.

Let us remind you that SAMBO is one of the few sports where Russians and Belarusians did not stop participating in all major international tournaments after the events of February 2022. This decision, despite the pressure of the IOC, was made in 2022 by the International Sambo Federation (FIAS). However, our athletes were forced to enter the mat in a neutral status.

This continued for almost four years, including at the European Championships in Serbia (in 2022 and 2024), Israel (in 2023) and Cyprus (in 2025), as well as at the world championships in Kyrgyzstan (in 2022 and 2025), Armenia (in 2023) and Kazakhstan (in 2024).

In December 2025, the FIAS Executive Committee made a historic decision to lift all restrictions on Russians and Belarusians and return their national symbols from January 1, 2026. The International Federation has shown rare autonomy and common sense for modern sports officials, recognizing that without the full participation of Russia, the birthplace of SAMBO, any international tournaments lose their sporting legitimacy, competition and entertainment.

"This decision was not a one—time measure, but the logical conclusion of the process that FIAS has been conducting consistently since 2022," Vasily Shestakov, president of the International Sambo Federation, told Izvestia. — Unlike a number of other federations, we did not suspend athletes from Russia and Belarus from competitions for a single day: all this time they performed in a neutral status, observing the same requirements as representatives of any other country. We are convinced that sport should remain outside politics, and equal rights for athletes are not a privilege, but a basic principle on which the entire international sports system is built. That is why our motto is: "Sambo is a family, family is strength, strength is peace!" The return of Russian and Belarusian SAMBO wrestlers to performing under national flags strengthens this unity and benefits the development of SAMBO all over the world.

Already in April 2026, at the World Cup in Armenia, the Russian national team performed under its own flag and anthem. In May, our SAMBO wrestlers took part in the European Championship in Georgia, and in September in the beach World Championship in Brazil. It is noteworthy that in all these tournaments the Russians won the team competition.

According to Sergey Eliseev, President of the All-Russian Sambo Federation and the European Sambo Federation, the return of the tricolor and anthem will have a positive impact on the team at the upcoming World Cup in Tajikistan.

"No matter what anyone says, the lack of national symbols negatively affects athletes, their mood and training," Yeliseyev told Izvestia. — The flag and the anthem are mandatory attributes for any athlete who goes out to compete. Of course, it's easier to tune in, it's more enjoyable to win. Because you are on absolutely equal terms with everyone. After the restrictions were lifted, Russian and Belarusian SAMBO wrestlers did not encounter any disrespect or security problems in any country or at any competition. Neither from the participants of the competition, nor from the audience. People who love and watch SAMBO are focused on the fact that all athletes should have equal rights.

Confirm the status

The Russian national team traditionally approaches the World Cup as the main favorite. The team consists of proven leaders — multiple world and European champions — as well as ambitious young athletes who have proven their right to a place at the base based on the results of the internal qualifying starts.

At the April World Cup in Armenia, the Russian national team confidently took first place in the medal standings, winning 51 medals (24 gold, 14 silver, 13 bronze). Our SAMBO wrestlers are ready to confirm their status at the tournament in Dushanbe.

However, according to Sergey Eliseev, the main task is to test tactical schemes and prepare well for the upcoming World Cup in Uzbekistan in November.

"We have only two World Cups on our calendar, and the tournament in Dushanbe is the final one before the World Championship, so first of all, we consider it as an important stage in preparation for the main competitions in Tashkent," the head of the All—Russian Sambo Federation told Izvestia. — Of course, our team will try to win, win maximum medals and win the team competition, but the main task is to test ourselves against strong rivals before the World Cup.

The main competition for our SAMBO wrestlers will be representatives of traditionally strong Central Asian SAMBO schools — teams from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. And for the carpet owners, the home stands will be an additional advantage in duels.

Back in Dushanbe

The choice of the World Cup venue is not accidental. In recent years, FIAS has been trying to expand the geography of the sport by holding major international competitions in different parts of the world. Central Asia is becoming one of the key centers of attraction for world martial arts today.

Dushanbe will host the World Cup for the second year in a row. The debut tournament, held in September 2025, demonstrated a high level of organization, a well-developed infrastructure and, importantly, tremendous spectator interest.

"Sambo continues its steady development and movement around the planet,— said FIAS President Shestakov. — Year after year, new countries on different continents join our large SAMBO family. We are proud of the development of SAMBO among blind and visually impaired athletes. Their courage and determination command deep respect, and the inclusion of this discipline in the World Cup program in Dushanbe shows that SAMBO is open to anyone who is ready to fight and win.

This year, the organizers expect an impressive line-up of participants again. More than 200 of the strongest SAMBO wrestlers from 14 countries will gather in the capital of Tajikistan. Medals will be awarded in 28 weight categories in sports and combat sambo among men and women, as well as sambo for the blind. The draw will be based on the updated FIAS international rating. This means that the leaders will not meet in the early stages, and the audience is guaranteed to see principled and spectacular fights in the final blocks.

The tournament itself will be an important final stage in the preparation of SAMBO wrestlers from all over the world for the world Championship, which will be held on November 6-8 in Uzbekistan.