Russian-Soviet martial art Sambo to make Asiad debut

PETALING JAYA: It’s time to samba with a new sport – the Russian-Soviet martial art sambo – at the Asian Games in Indonesia.

Yes, you heard it right! Sambo is one of the few new obscure sports making its debut at the Games from Aug 18-Sept 2.

Sambo is a self-defence sport without weapons, which was developed by the Soviet Red Army in 1920s to improve their hand- to- hand combat skills including grappling, throwing and groundwork techniques.

Sambo has finally made it to the grand stage in Asiad after being contested at the Asian Beach Games since 2014 and the Asian Indoor and Martial Art Games in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan last year.

Four gold medals will be up for grabs in Indonesia in the men’s 52kg, 90kg and women’s 48kg , 68kg.

And two Malaysian samboists Mohd Ezzat Mohd Noor and Yousuff Daniel Fauzi Cruz are eager and excited to make their presence felt in the men’s 90kg competition.

They earned the right to compete in the Games following their outstanding performances during the 1st SEA Sambo Championships, which served as a test event for the Asiad in April in Jakarta.

Ezzat won the below 90kg category while Yousuff finished second in the below 74kg category.

Malaysia Sambo Association ( Sambo Malaysia) president Terenze Phang Yeong Hau said the participation of their two samboists in Indonesia will mark the nation’s first-ever involvement in an official multi-sport Games.

“We want to thank the Olympic Council of Malaysia for including us in the contingent to Indonesia under category B (pay their own trip),” said Terenze.

“Sambo has been established in Malaysia for 10 years now but it’s not popular yet.

“We’ve never taken part in any of the major multi-sport Games, so this Asian Games is very important for us to showcase the sport to Malaysians.”

“It’s going to be tough to win a medal at the Asian Games. Those ex- Soviet countries such as Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgysztan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are the powerhouses in sambo. They are the ones who will battle for the few gold medals on offer.”

So where does that leave Malaysian samboists in the Asian Games?

“A top 10 finish will already be a creditable feat,” said Terenze.