Davao Native Caps Bronze in World Sambo Championships

Sydney Tancontian, an 18 year old Dabawenya earned a bronze medal during the 80th World Sambo Championships in Bucharest, Romania held November 8-11.

Tancontian’s feat is the first ever medal earned by any Southeast Asian country in the sport of Sambo which is dominated by Russians, Eastern Europeans and Mongolians.

Sambo, a Russian martial arts combining Judo and Wrestling is a fledgling sport in the Philippines, the Philippine Sambo Federation Incorporated (PSFI) was established in Davao City and is the only National Sporting Association (NSA) based in Davao.

Sydney Tancontian earned her historic bronze in the 80+ Kg category by winning over Mirtha Caridad Nieves of Cuba in the repechage match. In her first match she faced defending champion Anna Balashova where Sydney lost on points.

The Dabawenya who was also a bronze medalist in the 29th Southeast Asian Games for judo said the bronze in the world championships was the realization of a dream

“Parang yesterday it was all just a hope and a dream pero a day po pala can change everything as long as you have the heart to give it your all, with the help of God everything is possible,” Tancontian said in an interview

Atty Paolo Claudio PSFI president said Sydney’s bronze can be compared to Hidilyn Diaz’s silver medal achievement in the 2016 Summer Olympics.

The World Sambo Championships featured the best of the best Sambo athletes around the world and with Sydney winning the bronze she has the potentials of winning future medals in Sambo events.

Sambo will be included in the coming Southeast Asian Games which the Philippines will be hosting. (PIA/RG Alama)