Young martial arts competitors were up against some of the world’s best in a recent international contest.
Just weeks after bringing silverware home from the Netherlands, members of the Congleton-based Cheshire Sambo Club took part in the European Youth and Juniors Sambo Championships in Novi Sad, Serbia.
Team GB was represented by three club members – George Turner, Fin Swift and Oscar Roche.
Although they did not return with medals this time, coach and club founder Georgi Georgiev said: “They went to Serbia from the small town of Congleton to represent Team GB in the European youth and juniors Championship.
“Our young athletes showed that at the highest level they can perform very well against older and much more experienced opponents from Russia, Lithuania and Belarus – the leading countries in the amazing sport of Sambo.
“After the very successful Dutch Open Sambo Championship in March, the young team missed the medal table at the European championship – but came very close.” In the juniors’ combat Sambo contest, Oscar finished fifth out of 22 countries represented by 400 competitors, losing only after a very close contest against the Russian European champion. Fin and George, both first-year youths, had a tough draw against Russia and Lithuania but performed very well, Mr Georgiev added. “The competition gave them the highest level of experience they need for their future Sambo career.” Mr Georgiev, who is also Team GB Sambo national coach for juniors and seniors, said: “We took the team to the European championship and I was very happy with the results and the way our youths and juniors performed at possibly the highest level against the best countries in the world. We are just a step away from the medals – all our young team needs is more experience at that level.” Meanwhile, another Cheshire Sambo member, Rodney Adamson, will represent Team GB in Georgia at the European Seniors Sambo Championship in combat Sambo.
There are two forms of Sambo: sport Sambo and combat Sambo. Sport Sambo is a Russian martial art, a hybrid of judo and wrestling, focusing on throws, takedowns, pins and leg and arm locks, with no strikes allowed. Competitors wear a jacket (kurtka), shorts and wrestling-style shoes. Combat Sambo is closer to mixed martial arts, with roots in military and real-combat training, and includes everything from sport Sambo plus punches, kicks, knees, elbows and headbutts, depending on the rules.
Mr Georgiev, himself a 19-times British Sambo champion who also competed in the Bulgarian national judo team, said: “As our sport is not Government-funded, we are looking for serious sponsors to make this happen and allow our team to travel to international events and gain the experience they need to progress.”
Anyone wishing to sponsor the club can email Mr Georgiev at g.georgievsambo@yahoo.co.uk
Photo: Georgi Georgiev
