Guayaquil becomes this weekend in the capital of Sambo, with the realization of Pan American Championship 2025event that will bring together more than 300 athletes from all over Latin America at the Arena José Desimavilla Coliseum in Fedeguayas.
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The official presentation was held this Tuesday, June 24, at the Oro Verde Hotel, where national and international sports authorities highlighted the importance of the tournament for the development of this discipline in the region.
Among the press conference attendees were Francisco Ortiz, president of the Sambo Club Association of Ecuador; Roberto Ibáñez, president of Fedeguayas; Oleg Artmyuk and Victoria Khangalova, representatives of the Amateur International Federation of Sambo (Fias), as well as Daniel Frías and Diego Alvarado, local leaders linked to the organization and arbitration of the event.
Institutional support and Olympic goals
During the act, Ibáñez highlighted the infrastructure of the headquarters and reiterated its support for combat sports, in which Guayas has been historically protagonist. “Ecuador has good genetics for this type of disciplines. In struggle and judo we are dominant champions. In Box, Pichincha; and in Taekwondo, gold, but together we beat football in titles,” he emphasized.
For its part, Oleg Artmyuk said the championship could mark a before and after for the Sambo in Latin America. “This tournament can be the impulse we need to consolidate discipline in the region,” he said.
The long -term objective is clear: get the sambo part of the Olympic program. At the moment, the sport is already recognized by the International Olympic Committee, and in Ecuador the process to establish a formal federation with the endorsement of the Ecuadorian Olympic Committee progresses.
Sambo: Combat without weapons
Daniel Frías clarified the origin of the Name of the ATPORT: “Sambo is a Russian term that means ‘combat without weapons’. It is a complete discipline, which combines judo, struggle, blows and summaries techniques,” he explained.
Among the Ecuadorian athletes who will compete are Renato Ibarra, Edwin “Chocolate” Calderón and the Olympic medalist Luisa Valverde, who will participate in the category of Sambo Deportivo.
Solidarity schedule and entrance
The tournament will take place between June 27 and 29. On Thursday and Friday the preliminary and final competitions will be held at the José Desimavilla Arenawhile on Saturday the Pan American Beach Championship will be played at the Fedeguayas Sports Complex.
The entrance to the event will have a symbolic value: 3 kg of non -perishable foodswhich will be donated to beneficial causes.
This championship marks a new chapter in the history of Sambo in Ecuador and could open the doors for consolidation as a National Sports Federation.
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