MOSCOW, November 13. /TASS/. The national team of Russian wrestlers continued the country's tradition of success at the 2023 Sambo World Championships in Armenia last week, taking home 18 medals, Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin said on Monday.

The 2023 World Sambo Championships took place between November 10 and 12 in the Armenian capital of Yerevan, where Russia's Sambo wrestlers won a total of 18 medals (13 gold, two silver and three bronze). The organizers of the world championship also held numerous events dedicated to the 85th anniversary of Sambo wrestling.

"I would like to congratulate the Russian champions and medalists at the [2023] Sambo World Championship, which has concluded in Yerevan," the Russian Sports Ministry quoted Matytsin as saying in a statement. "Our athletes continued a tradition of success, winning 18 medals, including 13 gold."

"The victories of Russian wrestlers at the World Championships are a gift to all Sambo supporters ahead of the 85th anniversary of our [Russia-originated] sport, which will be marked on November 16," the Russian sports minister continued.

"I thank all athletes, coaches and the All-Russian Sambo Federation for their contribution to developing and popularizing this sport," Matytsin added.

Sambo wrestling

Sambo wrestling originated in Russia in the 1920s, when soldiers of the then-Soviet Army developed their own hand-to-hand combat technique. The word Sambo is a Russian acronym, which stands for "self-defense without weapons."

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated in 2016, speaking about Sambo wrestling and its global perspectives, that the Russia-originated wrestling sport should be included in the Olympic program, but this would require a lengthy approval process.