Opening of the 2025 National Sambo Club Championship

On the evening of April 8, at the Traditional House of the Revolution in Vung Tau City, the Vietnam Sports Administration (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) and the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province jointly organized the opening ceremony of the 2025 National Sambo Club Championship.

Athletes compete in individual combat.

Sambo is a martial art developed based on the crystallization and synthesis of the foundation of traditional wrestling arts of the peoples of the Russian Federation; at the same time, it is constantly developing and selectively inheriting the quintessence of other martial arts. This martial art optimizes techniques and training capabilities to be applied to the needs of personal self-defense, for police forces, soldiers, special forces...

This year is the second time the tournament has been held, attracting nearly 200 martial artists from 14 provinces, cities and industries to participate. The martial artists compete in individual combat in Sport Sambo (similar to Judo) and Combat Sambo (combat) in the following weight categories: under 58kg to over 98kg for men; under 50kg to over 80kg for women.

This year's tournament was held outdoors in a public area, creating momentum for the development of a widespread Sambo training and competition movement.

Mr. Tran Van Thach, in charge of the Sambo department, Vietnam Sports and Physical Training Department, said that the tournament is divided into two main contents: Sport Sambo and Combat Sambo. Sport Sambo focuses on techniques for taking down, locking and breaking, while Combat Sambo allows the use of punches, kicks, elbows and knees, creating a difference from other wrestling disciplines. Athletes from many different martial arts such as Judo, Wrestling, Jujitsu, Kickboxing and Muay Thai participated, creating diversity and attractive competition. The tournament is not only an opportunity for martial artists to compete and improve their professional skills, but also a stepping stone to select outstanding talents for the national Sambo team. This is also an opportunity to promote the movement of training and competing in Sambo nationwide, aiming to make Sambo a popular and beloved sport.

After the first day of competition in the men's and women's Sport Sambo events, Ho Chi Minh City led the medal rankings with 2 Gold Medals, 1 Silver Medal, 3 Bronze Medals; the Army ranked second with 2 Gold Medals, 1 Silver Medal; and Thai Nguyen ranked third with 1 Gold Medal, 1 Silver Medal, 3 Bronze Medals.

The Organizing Committee of the 2025 National Sambo Club Championship awarded medals to athletes with high achievements in the men's Sport Sambo competition, over 98kg weight class.

Mr. Phung Nguyen Tuong Minh, Head of the Department of Sports Management (Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province), Deputy Organizing Committee of the 2025 National Sambo Club Championship, said that this year's tournament is held outdoors in public areas, creating momentum to develop the Sambo training and competition movement widely, aiming to make Sambo a popular sport. The tournament is an important milestone, marking the development of Sambo in Vietnam and opening up many prospects for this sport in the future.

It is expected that the fighters participating in the 2025 National Sambo Club Championship will compete until April 10, at the Revolutionary Traditional House of Vung Tau city.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/khai-mac-giai-vo-dich-cac-cau-lac-bo-sambo-quoc-gia-2025-20250409085754971.htm