21 Mar 2022 PanAmerican Championship
Alajuela, Costa Rica’s third-largest city, proudly hosted the Pan American SAMBO Championships. The event, featuring Sport and Combat SAMBO competitions, took place on September 9-10, with an additional Beach SAMBO championship on September 11. Athletes from 20 continental states, including Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, the USA, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, and Venezuela, competed in the tournament, with each country represented by one athlete per weight category.
The Montserrat sports complex in Alajuela was the chosen venue for these championships. Visitors had the unique opportunity to watch exciting SAMBO matches and interact with the event’s mascot, a sloth in SAMBO gear, reflecting one of Costa Rica’s beloved national symbols.
``It fills us with immense pride to have Costa Rica as the host of this year's Pan American SAMBO Championships. Our team is dedicated to creating an unforgettable experience for every participant and spectator. I'd like to acknowledge the incredible work of our organizing committee and the invaluable support from our National Olympic Committee. Hosting these continental championships in Costa Rica, I believe, will significantly propel the growth and popularity of SAMBO, not just within our borders, but across the whole of Central America,`` stated Guillermo Sanchez, President of the SAMBO and Associated Sports Federation of Costa Rica.
This event marked Costa Rica’s first time hosting the Continental SAMBO Championships. Guillermo Sanchez, President of the SAMBO and Associated Sports Federation of Costa Rica, highlighted the hard work of the organizing committee and the substantial support from the National Olympic Committee. Hosting the championships in Costa Rica was seen as a significant step in promoting SAMBO’s growth not only in the nation but throughout Central America.
