A massive international turnout is expected at the 11th Asia-Oceania Sambo Championships set for June 23 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila, where Kyrgyzstan is set to arrive with the largest delegation of the competition.

Officials confirmed that the Central Asian nation will send 57 athletes to the tournament, outnumbering all other participating countries and placing Mongolia as the next biggest contingent with more than 40 entries.

Massive Asian participation

Pilipinas Sambo Federation president Paolo Tancontian said the tournament will bring together around 600 athletes representing 29 countries across Asia and Oceania, highlighting the scale of the international meet.

He said the strong turnout reflects the importance of the event within the regional combat sports calendar and its growing stature among participating nations.

“We are expecting about 600 athletes from 29 countries from all over Asia and Oceania to come over and compete in the tournament we are hosting that arguably is second only to our world championships,” Tancontian said.

The Kyrgyz delegation’s participation also highlights the logistical challenge of travel, with athletes covering more than 5,500 kilometers and spending up to 20 hours in transit to reach Manila.

PSC pushes sports tourism

Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio welcomed the development, emphasizing the tournament’s contribution to the country’s sports tourism drive.

“We salute the Pilipinas Sambo Federation and the local organizing committee in going the extra mile to make the forthcoming 11th Asia-Oceania Sambo Championships not only successful but also another boost to our local tourism,” Gregorio said.

PSC Commissioner Fritz Gaston noted that hosting the event at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex provides logistical efficiency, particularly with athletes staying at nearby accommodation.

“Having the tournament at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium inside the complex means that it falls in our area of jurisdiction,” Gaston said.

He added that lessons from previous international events, including the Philippine Open Tennis Championship, will help improve execution for the sambo championships.

The PSC said the event reinforces the Philippines’ position as a reliable host of major international sports competitions while strengthening its sports tourism initiatives.