Nigeria’s three-man team will begin their medal quest at the 2025 World Sambo Championships in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Friday (today), PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Representing Nigeria are Fatai Balogun, Samuel Kekere, and Sodiq Ajibade, competing in the combat and blind sambo categories.
Balogun will compete in the men’s 88kg Combat Sambo, while Kekere, who made history in 2024 as the first African to compete in blind sambo at the World Championships, returns to the global stage in the men’s 64kg Blind Sambo.
Ajibade, making his debut, will represent Nigeria in the men’s 98kg blind sambo, aiming for a podium finish.
Expressing his excitement ahead of his second outing, Kekere praised the Fédération Internationale de Sambo for its support and commended Sheriff Hammed, Vice President and General Secretary of the Sambo Association of Nigeria, for his instrumental role in facilitating the team’s participation.
“I am grateful to FIAS for their continued support and to Sheriff Hammed, who has worked tirelessly to ensure we are here. This is not just about me; it’s about showing that Africans with disabilities can compete at the highest level,” Kekere told our correspondent.
Hammed expressed confidence in the team’s ability to make an impact at the championships.
“Our athletes have trained hard and are ready to showcase Nigeria’s talent on the global stage. We are particularly proud of our blind sambo representatives who continue to break barriers and inspire others,” he said.
Sambo is an offshoot of judo, jujutsu, boxing, and folk wrestling and is currently recognised by the International Olympic Committee.
Organised by FIAS, the World Sambo Championships are the premier global event for both Sport Sambo and Combat Sambo, including the Blind Sambo (SVI1 category).
The three-day championship will feature top sambists from around the world, with competitions across sport sambo (men and women), combat sambo (men and women), and Blind Sambo (men, SVI1 category).
The total prize fund for the 2025 edition stands at $341,000, with equal prize money across all disciplines. Gold medalists will receive $4,000, silver medalists get $3,000, while bronze medalists will pocket $2,000.
In sport sambo, athletes will compete in groups with repechage from the finalists, while combat sambo will be contested without repechage.
The President of the Sambo Association of Nigeria, Loveth Howell, and Hammed are expected to attend the World Congress during the championships.
