Following a successful debut at the African Beach Sambo Championships in Morocco, the Nigerian team is set to make its first appearance at the 2024 World Sambo Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, from November 6 to 10.
The tournament will feature men’s and women’s sport sambo, men’s and women’s combat sambo, and men’s SVI-1 (totally blind athletes) blind sambo with a total of 31 medals to be competed for by athletes from 80 countries.
A significant highlight of the Championships is the inclusion of women in combat sambo for the first time and the participation of blind athletes. The event will also serve as the final qualifying tournament for the World Games 2025 in Chengdu, China.
Sheriff Hammed, Vice President and General Secretary of the Sambo Association of Nigeria, views this as a groundbreaking opportunity.
Nigeria will be represented by African women’s champion Charity Jatau, James Chegwam, and Alani Balogun while presenting the sole African competitor in the blind event, Samuel Oladele Kekere. The team will be coached by Gbenga Montana of Lagos State.
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“It’s going to do a lot and it’s giving them hope. What this means to me, with their challenge, they’re not deprived of anything, they can make a living, do something for themselves, and be proud. It’s quite amazing,” Hammed said.
Hammed added that the participation is self-sponsored, and added that they are seeking collaboration from government and private organizations.