SOUTHEAST Asian (SEA) Games 2019 sambo gold medalist Mark Striegl will spearhead a sambo exhibition and seminar set at 1 p.m. Friday, February 7, at Iflex Gym.

Striegl, also a seasoned professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, said, “This is my first time here. I’m enjoying myself here and I’m excited to promote and raise awareness and build the grassroots for sambo here, being the birthplace of Pilipinas Sambo, and in the country.”

He said sambo, which is an extreme combinal of different martial arts, is a sports where Filipinos can really excel.

“I just want to share my experience from SEA Games, talk about the growth of sambo in the country and share my knowledge on sambo and MMA,” he said during the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at The Annex of SM City Davao yesterday, February 6.

Sambo national coach Ace Larida also said that they will stick to the fundamentals in grassroots development.

Pilipinas Sambo president lawyer Paolo Claudio, for his part, said that they have been facing challenges in promoting the new sport in the country. Pilipinas was incorporated in 2015 and became a recognized member of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) in 2018. They only focused on the SEA Games in 2019 and was glad for a mission accomplished with the medals they delivered for the host country.

“This year we will focus on grassroots but training of our elite fighters will continue,” he said, underscoring that most MMA fighters who have been excelling are also sambo athletes.

Pilipinas Sambo secretary-general Paolo Tancontian, meanwhile, said they will coordinate with the Department of Education so that the sport could also be included in the Palarong Pambansa and with the Philippine Sports Commission for Batang Pinoy and Philippine National Games.