Iranian Sambo practitioners have clinched seven medals, including one silver, at the 2016 Asian Sambo Championship in Turkmenistan.

On Sunday, Hossein Tolou’ Sabouti suffered a 7-0 defeat at the hands of Uzbek opponent Ozodbek Bakoev in the final bout of the men's youth over 87-kilogram weight category at the Ashgabat Olympic Complex and was awarded a silver medal.

Earlier in the day, Iman Pajouhideh and Ayoub Fahimi earned two bronze medals in the combat senior men’s minus 62-kilogram and combat senior men’s minus 82-kilogram divisions.

Hamed Abbasi and Iraj Amirkhani also pocketed two bronze medals for the Islamic Republic of Iran in combat senior men’s over 100-kilogram and sport senior men’s minus 100-kilogram weight classes.

The achievements came only a day after Iranian Sambo athletes Aref Kazemi Toushen and Abbas Alizadeh scooped two bronze medals in men’s youth minus 65-kilogram and men’s combat senior minus 100-kilogram sections.

The 2016 Asian Sambo Championship kicked off in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on May 26 and will conclude on May 30.

A total of 400 male and female Sambo practitioners from seventeen Asian countries, including Afghanistan, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, have taken part in the event.



Sambo is a Russian martial art and combat sport. There are three main formats recognized by the Federation International Amateur Sambo (FIAS), namely Sport Sambo, Combat Sambo and Freestyle Sambo.

Sport Sambo is stylistically similar to Olympic Freestyle Wrestling or Judo, but with some differences in rules, protocol, and uniform.

Combat Sambo resembles modern mixed martial arts, including extensive forms of striking and grappling.  It was developed for military purposes.

Freestyle Sambo, which was created and debuted by the American Sambo Association (ASA) in 2004, focuses on throwing skills and fast ground work, and does not allow any strikes.

Unlike traditional Sambo, Freestyle Sambo allows choke holds and other submissions. Neck cranks and twisting foot locks are also permitted.

By Press TV