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Tag: 2026 Asia and Oceania Sambo Championship

  • Philippine team delivers three golds, improves medal haul at Asia and Oceania Sambo Championships 

    Philippine team delivers three golds, improves medal haul at Asia and Oceania Sambo Championships 

    The Philippines achieved its best showing yet at the Asian and Oceania Sambo Championships after improving on last year’s gold-medal haul and finishing fifth overall in the 2026 edition held at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.


    Backed by home support, the national team closed the tournament with three gold, four silver, and eight bronze medals, surpassing the two-gold performance it delivered in the previous championships. The result placed the host nation fifth overall among the 22 participating countries in the tournament organized by the Pilipinas Sambo Federation, Inc.

     

    The country’s breakthrough began on Saturday when Jomary Torres and Princess Aumagel Cortez delivered back-to-back gold medals in the women’s combat sambo division.

     

    Torres wasted little time asserting her dominance in the women’s -50kg final, overwhelming Kazakhstan’s Zhadyra Paiyz in just 17 seconds—one of the fastest victories recorded during the tournament—to secure the championship.

     

    While simply reaching the podium would have been enough for some, Torres admitted she entered the tournament with only one goal in mind.

     

    The momentum continued moments later as Cortez defeated Kazakhstan’s Mervet Berdikhanova, 9-2, in the women’s -59kg combat sambo final.

     

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    Cortez dictated the match from the opening exchange, building a comfortable advantage before successfully fending off Berdikhanova’s late armbar attempt to preserve the seven-point victory.

     

    The Philippines completed its golden campaign on Sunday through reigning champion Aislinn Yap, who successfully defended her women’s -80kg combat sambo crown with a hard-earned 1-0 victory over Kazakhstan’s Zamzagul Faizollanova.

     

    Yap secured the lone point of the match with a well-executed takedown midway through the contest against the five-time Kazakhstan national champion. Although Faizollanova’s corner challenged the scoring, tournament officials upheld the call after a video review, allowing Yap to retain her title.

     

    The host nation also collected three silver medals across different divisions as defending women’s +80kg combat sambo champion Sydney Sy settled for silver after falling 6-0 to former world champion Arailym Abenova of Kazakhstan in a rematch between familiar rivals.

     

    National team newcomer Jasmaine Henryk Ching also finished runner-up after losing by submission to Kazakhstan’s Gulo Almukhanbetova in the women’s -54kg sport sambo final.

     

    The Philippines’ silver haul was completed by Sophia Nicole Novino, who earned runner-up honors in the women’s youth -47kg division, and Christi Espolong, who likewise captured silver in the juniors combat -59kg category.

     

    Beyond the medal count, the tournament highlighted the continued rise of Philippine sambo, with established champions successfully defending their titles while emerging athletes delivered podium finishes against some of Asia and Oceania’s strongest competitors.

     

    By surpassing last year’s gold-medal total and finishing inside the top five of the overall standings, the Philippines leaves the 2026 Asian and Oceania Sambo Championships with renewed momentum as it continues building its presence on the international stage.

     

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  • Sophia Nicole Novino wins silver, three Filipinas grab bronze as PH Sambo shines in Asia-Oceania Championships 

    Sophia Nicole Novino wins silver, three Filipinas grab bronze as PH Sambo shines in Asia-Oceania Championships 

    A promising new face in Philippine sambo announced her arrival on the international stage as Sophia Nicole Novino fought her way to a silver medal finish at the opening of the 11th Asia-Oceania Sambo Championships at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.


    The 17-year-old grappler reached the Youth Women’s -47-kilogram division final, putting together an impressive run before eventually falling to Kazakhstan’s Karakat Rakhybay in the championship bout via submission.

     

    Despite missing out on the gold medal, Novino viewed the result as a major step forward in her young career, describing the silver as something far more valuable than its color suggests.

    “It felt like I achieved a lot since I didn’t expect a lot here,” Novino said.

     

    Before reaching the finals, Novino displayed composure beyond her years by overcoming opponents from Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan, securing victories that pushed her into the title match of one of Asia-Oceania’s biggest sambo competitions.

     

    The young Filipina’s performance also highlighted the growth of the country’s emerging sambo program, with the tournament serving as a major test for local athletes against some of the strongest competitors in the region.

     

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  • Defending champion Sydney Sy headlines Philippine bid at the Asia-Oceania Sambo Championships

    Defending champion Sydney Sy headlines Philippine bid at the Asia-Oceania Sambo Championships

    The top Philippine bet, Sydney Sy Tancontian is set to defend her title at the 11th Asia-Oceania Sambo Championships, which begins Friday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, as the country hosts one of the biggest sambo competitions for the first time.


    Currently ranked No. 1 in the world in the women’s +80-kilogram sport sambo division, Sy enters the continental showcase as one of the Philippines’ strongest medal hopes.

     

    The event, held under the aegis of the National Sports Tourism Inter-Agency Committee, is expected to feature more than 500 athletes from 31 member countries under the Sambo Union of Asia and Oceania, making it a major test for the country’s representatives.

     

    For Sy, the focus is now fully on competition after a challenging period involving her father, Pilipinas Sambo Federation president Paolo Tancontian, who recently dealt with health concerns.

    With his condition improving, the 27-year-old athlete can now shift her attention toward the tournament ahead.

     

    “Thank God, my father’s health has greatly improved and is now addressing the details of the tournament so I can now focus on taking part in the competition,” Sy said.

     

    Sy enters the event with confidence after capturing the women’s heavyweight sport sambo gold medal in last year’s 10th edition in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. She defeated Mongolia’s Buyanzaya Ser-Ochir to claim the championship and establish herself as one of Asia-Oceania’s top competitors.

     

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    Her previous triumph was part of a strong showing by the Philippine team, with Aislynn Yap also winning gold in the demanding women’s -80kg combat sambo division.

     

    Now competing in front of a home audience, Sy hopes to use the support around her as an advantage while carrying the expectations of Philippine sambo.

     

    Her father believes having the reigning champion in the lineup will provide a major boost not only for Sy but for the entire national team.

     

    “Malaking bagay na makakalaro ang aking anak na si Sydney sa Asia-Oceania Sambo Championships. Malaking inspirasyon siya sa national team at sa bayan. Kapag nandiyan siya, iba talaga ang kumpiyansa ng atleta natin,” Tancontian said.

     

    The father of Sydney also sees the home tournament as a valuable opportunity for his daughter to showcase her skills against the best athletes in the region.

     

    “It’s a big opportunity for my daughter to be competing in the event, this will be a major inspiration for the athletes and for the country,” Tancontian said.

     

    Beyond Sy’s title defense, the event represents a historic moment for Philippine sambo as Manila becomes the first host in history of the premier SAMBO championships in the Asia-Oceania region.

     

    Running from June 25 to 28, the tournament gives local athletes a rare chance to compete on home soil — with Sy leading the charge as the face of the country’s medal campaign.

     

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  • Philippines gears up to host 2026 Asia and Oceania Sambo Championships in June 

    Philippines gears up to host 2026 Asia and Oceania Sambo Championships in June 

    Manila is set to become the center of the SAMBO world this June as the Philippines prepares to host the 2026 Asia and Oceania SAMBO Championships at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

     

    Backed by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and supported by key sports officials, the tournament scheduled from June 23 to 28 is also a statement of intent for a nation pushing to expand its footprint in martial arts disciplines.

     

    The decision to bring the event to the Philippines reflects both recent success and long-term vision.

     

    The Philippines is expecting a strong turnout, as Philippine Sambo Federation Inc. President Paolo Tancotian noted that 29 countries and over 500 athletes are expected to be joining. 

     

    “Itong ating event kaya tayo napa-host dahil sa na-inspire tayo. In total we have 16 medals na yung nakuha natin sa Asia and Oceania. Yung tatlong gold medal courtesy kay Sydney (Sy) at yung pang-apat galing kay Aislinn Yap,” Tancotian said during a press conference on Thursday.

     

    Beyond medals, organizers see the tournament as a platform for growth, visibility, and national pride.

     

    “Yung gusto natin makita especially dito sa Philippines na manalo yung ating athletes. Hindi lang sa manalo, ma-promote din sports tourism sa ating bansa. And mapanood mismo ng ating kababayan yung ating sambo tournament,” the PSFI president added.

     

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    Leading the Philippine charge is former world No. 1 and three-time Asian champion Sydney Sy, who will headline a 30-athlete national delegation—one of the largest contingents the country has ever fielded in the sport.

     

    “Sa 10 years lang po ng Pilipinas Sambo, we are able to host a prestigious event. Major, major event po ito for us. And napakalaking honor. We will be able to give more opportunities po sa athletes po,” she said.

     

    For national federation officials, the expanded lineup is a sign of how far the sport has come locally, especially with young athletes now getting international exposure at scale.

      

    There is also a personal layer to the story, with Sy leading not just as a champion but as an inspiration for the next generation hoping to follow her path to the global stage.

      

    Support from the broader Philippine sports leadership further underscores the event’s importance in the country’s sporting roadmap.

     

    Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Patrick Gregorio voiced their support for the event, sharing that they have seen firsthand the progress of sambo in the country. 

     

    They emphasized that staging the competition in the Philippines will not only aid in preparation but also give Filipinos a chance to gain a deeper appreciation of the sport. 

     

    POC Secretary General Wharton Chan and PSC Commissioner Fritz Gaston also threw their support behind the event, saying it will contribute to the continued growth of sambo in the country. 

     

    “This is a huge milestone for Philippine sports. At any rate, yung sambo they have combat, grappling, all-around so maraming world champions na galing sa sambo. Sambo would be a force to reckoned with in the future,” Chan said.

     

    With elite athletes from across Asia and Oceania set to converge in Manila, the championship is expected to do more than crown winners—it aims to establish the Philippines as a serious player in the global combat sports landscape, while inspiring the next wave of homegrown champions.

     

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