Armenian SAMBO athlete Arman Avanesyan has been nominated for the prestigious The World Games Athlete of the Year 2025 award by the International World Games Association (IWGA). Arman is one of 30 outstanding athletes representing their sports in this global competition, nominated by their respective International Federations in recognition of exceptional achievements throughout 2025.
A Year of Triumphs
Arman Avanesyan’s 2025 season has been nothing short of extraordinary. In May, he captured the European Championship title in Combat SAMBO, showcasing exceptional skill and determination that earned him IWGA’s Athlete of the Month award for April.
His crowning achievement came in August at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, China, where he claimed gold in the men’s 98 kg Combat SAMBO category. The victory was a historic moment for Armenian SAMBO and a powerful demonstration of the sport’s competitive spirit on the world stage.
But for Arman, 2025 held even deeper meaning. “I won the European Championships, The World Games... and most importantly, my son was born. This truly is a year of victories. Now my next target is the World Championships in November,” he shared. At the World Championships in Kyrgyzstan, Arman won a bronze medal.
How to Support Arman
Voting for The World Games Athlete of the Year 2025 opens on January 12, 2026 at 12:00 GMT and will run until February 2, 2026 at 12:00 GMT.
The voting process includes a halfway elimination round on January 26, 2026, where only the Top 10 candidates will advance to the final stage. Vote tallies will be displayed in real time throughout the campaign.
Voting Rules:
— Vote via The World Games website
— Maximum of one voting session per 24 hours
— Each session requires selecting two candidates: first choice (2 votes) and second choice (1 vote)
— Votes for only one candidate will not be counted
IWGA President José Perurena commented on the campaign: “The World Games Athlete of the Year campaign continues to grow in strength and visibility each year, engaging fans from all corners of the world. It perfectly reflects the diversity and inclusivity that define The World Games.”
The International SAMBO Federation calls on the global SAMBO community to unite in support of Arman Avanesyan. This is an opportunity to showcase the strength of our sport and celebrate a true champion who embodies the values and spirit of SAMBO.
Vote for Arman Avanesyan starting January 12th and help bring this prestigious award home to the SAMBO family!
The full list of nominees and their profiles is available on The World Games official website.