The tournament in Zelenograd was the first to be held for deaf athletes ©FIAS

A Sambo tournament for competitors with hearing disabilities has taken place for the first time.

Representatives from Russia, Italy, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Ukraine, Armenia, Belarus and Moldova took part in Zelenograd on February 5, with the competition being held in conjunction with the International Sambo Federation (FIAS) and the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD).

There were seven weight categories contested by men and women.

Russian Sambo athletes won all the golds in the women’s weight divisions, with successes for Natalia Egoricheva, 48 kilogram, Ekatherina Sazonova, 52 kg, Svetlana Kryukova, 56 kg, Inna Strinaglyuk, 64 kg, Anna Tkachenko, 68 kg, Mila Slepusheva, 72kg, and Anastasia Talanova, over 72 kg.

Russia's women won all seven golds available at the tournament ©FIAS
Russia's women won all seven golds available at the tournament ©FIAS

In the men’s competitions, the golds were mixed around Russia, Italy, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia.

Evgeniy Utyushev, 74kg, Sergei Tsyrenzhapov,82kg, and Rostislav Burke, 90kg, were all victorious for the host nation.

There were two wins for Kyrgyzstan with Marsbek Atabekov, 57kg, and Ilgiz Kanalbek uulu, over 90kg, topping the podiums.

Italian Aleandro Tristano won the 62kg category and Mounh-Orgil Badamsambuu came first in the 68kg competition.

Alongside the competition, a Sambo masterclass from Alexander Lomakin and Nikita Ivanov from the FIAS demonstration group was held.