JERUSALEM, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The European Sambo Championships opened on Wednesday in the northern Israeli city of Haifa, with the participation of 479 athletes from 20 countries and regions.
The championships, taking place for the 41st time, includes seven weight categories for men and women each in sport sambo, alongside seven categories for men in combat sambo, all held over two days in Haifa's Romema Arena.
Among the participants are 23 medalists from the 2022 World Championships held last November in Kyrgyzstan, including reigning sport sambo world champions Alana Kupava of Belarus in the -54kg category and Georgia's Elene Kebadze at +80kg in the women's competitions, and silver medalist Daviti Loriashvili of Georgia in the men's -98kg.
In the men's combat sambo competitions, world champions Tariel Abbasov from Israel in the -71kg category and Russia's Viktor Nemkov in -98kg are participating.
On Friday, the European championship for cadets, juniors, and youth will begin at the same venue. ■
