The German Open SAMBO Tournament 2025, held on May 17 at the Lina-Radke-Halle in Karlsruhe, marked a significant milestone in the lead-up to the World Games 2029 in Germany. Serving as the inaugural test event for the upcoming multi-sport spectacle, the tournament showcased both the city’s organizational capabilities and the growing prominence of SAMBO on the international stage.
The tournament attracted over 160 athletes from 15 countries, reflecting the sport’s expanding global reach, including athletes from Germany, Armenia, Serbia, North Macedonia, Great Britain, France, Moldova, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Competitors vied for medals in both Sport and Combat SAMBO disciplines across various age categories, from cadets to adults.
Among the participants were several distinguished athletes with impressive credentials:
Anna-Mariya Manusheva of Bulgaria, recent bronze medal winner at the European Championships in Cyprus in the women −65 kg category added to her accolades by clinching gold in Karlsruhe.
Cristina Blanaru of Romania, recent silver medal winner at the European Championships in Cyprus in the women −54 kg category, winning again silver at the German Open.
Narek Shatveryan of Armenia, Silver medal winner at the European Championships in Spain 2019, achieved Silver in Germany
Milana Vrcinac of Serbia, 3rd place at the Europeans in youth category −54 kg who was able to achieve two times Gold, one in the women category too.
And Germany’s Luise Mattisseck, a silver medalist at the European Championships −65 kg Youth, who was able to reach silver at her home tournament in the adult category too.
“Their participation underscored the tournament’s high competitive standards and its appeal to athletes preparing for international competitions,” the organizing committee emphasized.
Fabian Schley, coach and representative of the German SAMBO Federation, emphasized the event’s significance:
“The German Open SAMBO Tournament have been officially the first test event in preparation for the World Games, which will be held in Karlsruhe in 2029. SAMBO has been granted the honor of becoming the starting point for testing all the processes necessary for hosting a world-class multi-sport event. We have succeeded in presenting Sambo and our federation as a reliable and good partner to the organizing committee for the World Games and in raising interest in our sport.”
He also said, that the successful execution of the German Open SAMBO 2025 not only provided valuable insights for organizers but also reinforced Karlsruhe’s readiness to host the World Games 2029. The city’s ability to manage an international sporting event of this caliber bodes well for the future, promising a memorable experience for athletes and spectators alike.
The German Federation will host the next German Open on June 2026 again in the city of Karlsruhe.