Medals will be competed for at the Municipal Arena both in sport and combat sambo among men and women.

Podium finishers will receive prizes, relevant diplomas and money rewards from the Organising Committee.

Gold medallists will be awarded $500 (£400/€420), while silver and bronze medallists will receive sums of $300 (£230/€250) and $100 (£75/€85) respectively.

Today will see the weigh-in held for six categories - men’s sport sambo 62 kilograms and 82kg, women’s sport sambo 56kg and 64kg, and combat sambo 57kg and 68kg.

Competition in those divisions is scheduled to take place tomorrow.

It will be followed by action in a further six categories - men’s sport sambo 57kg, 74kg and 90kg, women’s sport sambo 60kg and combat sambo 62kg and 82kg - on Sunday (September 3).

The Organising Committee is expecting participants from India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Romania, Russia, Taiwan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, as well as hosts South Korea.

Last month, Korean Sambo Federation President Chong-keum Moon said he believes the sport could possibly compete with more established martial arts in the future in Asia.

He admitted, however, it will not be an easy process.

Moon, as well as leading the South Korean Federation, heads the East Asia Regional Sambo Federation.

He said there is a challenge to develop sambo in the region, but he is confident the sport will develop well in the future.