The FIAS team were victorious at the World Beach Sambo Championships ©FIAS

Russian sambists, competing as neutrals, concluded the World Beach Sambo Championships by winning the team tournament in Bat Yam in Israel.

Yesterday, neutral athletes edged Romania four golds to three in the individual events and they would better their opposite number again.

This time it happened in the team event.

Russian athletes competed under the International Sambo Federation (FIAS) flag due to the invasion of Ukraine after the world body decided against an outright ban for athletes from Russia and Belarus.

The path to the final for the FIAS team included sweeping past Armenia in the quarter-finals before bettering The Netherlands in the semi-finals.

A FIAS team won the last gold medal in Bat Yam ©FIAS
A FIAS team won the last gold medal in Bat Yam ©FIAS

The Dutch had defeated Uzbekistan in the previous round.

Romania’s journey involved a walkover against Morocco and a semi-final win over Israel, who had previously beaten France.

After making their way through the repechage, Armenia and Israel were the bronze medallists.