Bright Start to the 2026 Sambo World Cup in Yerevan: Day One Results

On April 11, the capital of Armenia — Yerevan — hosted the opening of the 2026 Sambo World Cup, launching the international calendar of FIAS. The tournament is taking place at the Gazprom Training and Sports Complex arena and already delivered intense matches, major victories, and unexpected outcomes on its first day.

19 Medal Sets and High Competition

On the opening day, medals were contested in 19 weight categories. Athletes from dozens of countries competed in sport sambo, combat sambo, and in the division for visually impaired athletes (BVI).

Particular attention was drawn to the men’s sport sambo finals, traditionally dominated by athletes from Russia and Kazakhstan, as well as the women’s combat sambo tournament, which showcased a high level of competition.

Armenia’s National Team Performance

The Armenian national team delivered a strong performance on home soil, winning five medals:

• GOLD: Karen Sargsyan (58 kg) — confident victory and the team’s only gold
• BRONZE: David Hovsepyan (58 kg)
• BRONZE: Mariam Stepanyan (54 kg, combat sambo)
• BRONZE: Srbuhi Hovakimyan (59 kg, combat sambo)
• BRONZE: Yekaterina Zhigalova (80 kg, combat sambo)

Sargsyan became the hero of the day for local fans, overcoming strong opponents from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Russia.

Results of the Day 1 of the 2026 World SAMBO Cup in Yerevan

Sport SAMBO - Men

58 kg

1. SARGSYAN Karen (ARM)

2. IVANOV Pavel (RUS)

3. PARMONOV Ilhom (UZB)

3. HOVSEPYAN David (ARM)

64 kg

1. PASTERNAK Denis (RUS)

2. SMERTIN Egor (RUS)

3. NURSEITOV Nursultan (KAZ)

3. OLIMJONOV Sardor (UZB)

71 kg

1. KUATAY Arnur (KAZ)

2. BEISENBAYEV Zhandos (KAZ)

3. NAZAROV Nikita (RUS)

3. GADZHIEV Eldar (RUS)

79 kg

1. KORNEEV Andrei (RUS)

2. DZHAKSHYLYKOV Baiel (KGZ)

3. HARKOV Ivan (BUL)

3. KRIVYKH Artem (RUS)

88 kg

1. ABAZOV Aslan (RUS)

2. PAPSHUOV Aznaur (RUS)

3. AMANGELDIYEV Atanyyaz (TKM)

3. KAMASH Dauren (KAZ)

98 kg

1. MERZLIAKOV Maxim (RUS)

2. KOISHYBAYEV Yelaman (KAZ)

3. SIDAMONIDZE Nika (GEO)

3. AIUBOV Andrei (RUS)

+98 kg

1. BRACHEV Anton (RUS)

2. KOLBAY Temirlan (KAZ)

3. MALITSKI Arseni (BLR)

3. KRIVOBOKOV Anton (RUS)

 

Combat SAMBO - Women

50 kg

1. TEPYSHEVA Valeriia (RUS)

2. KURBANOVA Kurbanay (TKM)

3. ALTYNBEK Sholpan (KAZ)

3. BRIAGINIA Olga (RUS)

 

54 kg

1. FIRSOVA Ulyana (RUS)

2. DOROSHENKO Mariia (RUS)

3. USON KYZY Akak (KGZ)

3. STEPANYAN Mariam (ARM)

59 kg

1. LOTKOVA Vera (RUS)

2. KUZMINA Daria (RUS)

3. BIZAK Marzhan (KAZ)

3. HOVAKIMYAN Srbuhi (ARM)

65 kg

1. VOROSHILOVA Maria (RUS)

2. ORUNOVA Zyba (TKM)

3. TURGUNBOYEVA Arukhan (KAZ)

3. NURMAKHANOVA Meruyert (KAZ)

72 kg

1. POLIAKOVA Iana (RUS)

2. ASSEMKAMALKYZY Aruzhan (KAZ)

3. ARUTIUNOVA Valentyna (UKR)

3. ALEKSANDROVA Polina (RUS)

80 kg

1. TATARCHENKO Nadezhda (RUS)

2. KOZYREVA Iana (RUS)

3. ZHIGALOVA Yekaterina (ARM)

3. ADILOVA Ulbossyn (KAZ)

+80 kg

1. GASPARIAN Anzhela (RUS)

2. DEMCHENKO Anastasiia (UKR)

3. MAKIEVA Kristina (RUS)

3. ASSANKYZY Nurila (KAZ)

BVI SAMBO SVI-1 - Men

64 kg

1. DEMIDOV Andrei (RUS)

2. ABDURAKHMONOV Isokjon (UZB)

3. LATYPOV Vener (RUS)

3. URSUL Alexandr (MDA)

79 kg

1. MERKULOV Artem (RUS)

2. RUDENKO Viktor (RUS)

3. SHIOBRISHVILI Mishiko (GEO)

3. SAFARQULOV Qosim (UZB)

98 kg

1. SELIVANOV Pavel (RUS)

2. KIPSHIDZE Ramini (GEO)

3. RAYIMOV Ulmas (UZB)

3. NARANJARGAL Tserentogtokh (MGL)

BVI SAMBO SVI-1 - Women

54 kg

1. RUKAYAT Suleimon (NGR)

2. ORTIKOVA Charos (UZB)

3. AZIZA Turanova (KGZ)

3. ABDINAZAROVA Elnara (KAZ)

59 kg

1. NASYROVA Alsu (RUS)

2. CERNEI Ina (MDA)

3. BERIK Ainagul (KAZ)

3. GANTULGA Oyun (MGL)