Artsakh-born sambist Karen Sargsyan was crowned European champion at the 2026 European Sambo Championships in Tbilisi, anchoring one of Armenia’s strongest showings at the tournament. Competing for Armenia’s national team in the men’s 58 kg sport sambo category, Sargsyan defeated Georgia’s Vakhtang Chidrashvili 2-1 in the final to claim his title and Armenia’s first gold of the championships. His path to gold was demanding, with wins over Russian and Bulgarian opponents earlier in the bracket before the final against the Georgian host.
The tournament concluded on May 17 with Armenia finishing third in the overall medal standings, securing 9 medals across sport and combat sambo: 2 gold, 3 silver, and 4 bronze. Team Armenia placed behind only Russia and Ukraine, ahead of Belarus, host nation Georgia, Bulgaria, and Azerbaijan.
Armenia’s second gold came from Gor Harutyunyan in the 88 kg sport sambo division. Both gold medals for Armenia came in sport sambo.
The silvers came in combat sambo, where three Armenian fighters reached their respective finals. Mayis Nersesyan took silver in the 64 kg category, Arsen Avedisyan claimed silver at 71 kg, and Leonid Melikyan secured silver at 98 kg.
Four bronze medals came from Boris Shatveryan in 79 kg sport sambo, along with Narek Goginyan at 58 kg, Gevorg Azatyan at 79 kg, and Mkhitar Temuryan in the over 98 kg division, all in combat sambo.
Russia topped the standings with 13 gold, 3 silver, and 4 bronze. Ukraine took second with 2 gold, 4 silver, and 6 bronze. Armenia’s 2-3-4 finish placed it ahead of Belarus (2 gold, 2 silver, 6 bronze), Georgia (1 gold, 5 silver, 7 bronze), Bulgaria (1 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze), and Azerbaijan (0 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze).
Armenia’s medalists at the 2026 European Sambo Championships
Sport Sambo (Men)
- Karen Sargsyan, 58 kg, gold
- Boris Shatveryan, 79 kg, bronze
- Gor Harutyunyan, 88 kg, gold
Combat Sambo (Men)
- Narek Goginyan, 58 kg, bronze
- Mayis Nersesyan, 64 kg, silver
- Arsen Avedisyan, 71 kg, silver
- Gevorg Azatyan, 79 kg, bronze
- Leonid Melikyan, 98 kg, silver
• • Mkhitar Temuryan, over 98 kg, bronze
