Blind and visually impaired categories were contested for the first time at the Asia and Oceania Sambo Championships in Astana last month, with the host nation winning eight of the 11 titles available.

The inclusion of blind and visually impaired sambo was the brainchild of the chair of the FIAS Commission for Athletes with Disabilities Roman Novikov, who said the championship was a model for future competitions.

"The model for holding international sambo competitions for the blind and visually impaired has been worked out, and now we can move on to scaling," Novikov explained.

"Regardless of what place they took in the championship, each of them became a pioneer in international sambo tournaments for the blind and visually impaired, and their names will forever remain inscribed in the history of the origin and development of our discipline."

Competition took place across two categories - SV1, for totally blind athletes, and SV2, for visually impaired athletes.

Novikov acknowledged that classification was the main issue going into the event, and explained how it was handled.

"Athletes were classified in Astana by a group of international FIAS classifiers," Novikov said.

"It was critically important for us to objectively determine the state of vision of the athletes, which allowed them to subsequently compete in equal conditions in accordance with their class.

"For this, a separate day was allocated before the start of the championship, which allowed specialists to fully examine all the participants of the tournament."

Novikov also praised referees in the event, who received training at a seminar on the eve of the competition, as being instrumental in ensuring its success.

"Referees play a huge role in every competition, and in sambo bouts for the blind and visually impaired, their importance increases even more,” Novikov said.

"They not only judge and evaluate the technical actions of the opponents, but also help the athletes enter the mat, navigate in space and start the bout from the grip.

"The referee’s team fully coped with all the functions assigned to it and did an excellent job at our tournament.

"I believe that the absolute absence of injuries in competitions is also largely their merit."

Novikov also praised the inclusion of blind and visually impaired sambo within the Asia and Oceania Sambo Championships in Astana.

"I want to mention the importance of holding international sambo competitions for blind and visually impaired sambists in precisely such formats, when this discipline is fully integrated into the main international sambo competitions," he added.

"This allows visually impaired athletes to become part of a large sambo family and join its traditions."