DAVAO City First District Representative Karlo Alexei Nograles was named chair of Pilipinas Sambo Federation Inc. (PSFI) or popularly known as Sambo Pilipinas.
Sambo is a Russian martial art and combat sport created in the 1920s by the Soviet Red Army initially integrating the techniques of judo, jui-jitsu and catch wrestling.
PSFI, founded two years ago in Davao City, is the national governing body of Sambo in the Philippines as recognized by the Federation International de Sambo (FIAS).
“Under the chairmanship of Congressman Nograles, we plant to utilize his existing grassroots program to introduce the sports of Sambo nationally especially to the youth,” PSFI president lawyer Paolo Claudio said on Nograles’ acceptance to be PSFI’s chairmanship.
Claudio said with Nograles at the helm, PSFI aims to promote the sport in the country and participate in international tournaments.
PSFI will field two female players in the 2017 World Championship in Sochi, Russia slated November 9 to 12.
The Philippines, through PSFI, officially joined the list of Sambo countries when it sent a lone delegate to the 2015 World Championships in Casablanca, Morocco.
PSFI also organized the first national sambo championships in the Philippines with a tournament held at the Abreeza Ayala Mall in Davao City last year.
Sambo was included in the events under the Pre-Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games held at Harrison Plaza in June. The event was a qualifiying tournament for the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games held last September 24 to 26 in Turkmenistan. (With PR)