MANILA — Kyrgyzstan will send the largest delegation to the 11th Asia-Oceania Sambo Championships, highlighting the growing importance of the regional tournament scheduled for June 23-27 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
Paolo Tancontian, president of the Pilipinas Sambo Federation, announced that Kyrgyzstan has confirmed a contingent of 57 athletes, making it the biggest team in the five-day competition. Mongolia follows with more than 40 entries, he said during a recent interagency meeting at the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Media Center.
The strong participation is noteworthy given the distance between the two countries. Kyrgyzstan, a landlocked nation in Central Asia, lies approximately 5,500 kilometers west of the Philippines. Travel to Manila typically takes 18 to 20 hours due to the absence of direct flights.
Tancontian emphasized that the large delegation reflects the significance of the Asia-Oceania Championships in the international sambo calendar. “We expect around 600 athletes from 29 countries across Asia and Oceania to compete. Arguably, it is second only to the world championships in importance for our region,” he stated.
The championships are organized by the Pilipinas Sambo Federation with support from the Philippine Sports Commission and the National Sports Tourism Inter-Agency Committee (NST-IAC).
PSC Chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio welcomed the development, noting that the event will promote sports tourism and showcase the Philippines’ capacity to host major international competitions. “We salute the Pilipinas Sambo Federation and the local organizing committee for going the extra mile to ensure the success of the 11th Asia-Oceania Sambo Championships and provide another boost to local tourism,” Gregorio said.
PSC Commissioner Fritz Gaston, who oversees sambo programs, reported that preparations are progressing smoothly with strong cooperation among government agencies. “Everything went quite well, and all agencies involved were well represented during the meeting,” Gaston said.
Gaston added that holding the championships at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex offers significant logistical advantages. Delegates will stay at the nearby Century Park Hotel, reducing transportation needs and simplifying security operations. “Having the tournament at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium means it falls within our area of jurisdiction. Since all delegates will be housed at the Century Park Hotel, we expect fewer logistical challenges involving transport and security,” he explained.
The PSC official also cited lessons from the successful staging of the Philippine Open Tennis Championship, a WTA 125 event held at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in January. “The PSC gained valuable experience from hosting the Philippine Open, and we intend to apply those lessons to ensure a successful Asia-Oceania Sambo Championships,” Gaston said.
The tournament is sanctioned by the International Sambo Federation and the Sambo Union of Asia and Oceania.
