Martial artists compete at the 2025 National Sambo Clubs Championship. — VNA/VNS Photo

VŨNG TÀU City — The 2025 National Sambo Clubs Championship began in Vũng Tàu City on Tuesday.

The event features nearly 200 martial artists from 14 provinces, cities and sectors, who are competing across various weight classes.

Trần Văn Thạch, head of the Sambo Department at the Sports Authority of Việt Nam, said the tournament serves as a platform for martial artists to enhance their skills and is a crucial step in identifying outstanding talent for the national sambo team. Additionally, it aims to promote the practice and popularity of sambo across the country.

The championship, co-organised by the Sports Authority of Việt Nam and the Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu Province’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, will continue until Thursday.

Sambo, a martial art developed from the synthesis of traditional wrestling techniques from various ethnic groups in the Russian Federation, continuously evolves by integrating elements from other wrestling styles. This martial art emphasises optimising techniques and training methods for personal self-defence, as well as for use by police forces, soldiers and special units. VNS