Nigeria Eyes History at 2024 World Sambo Championships

Nigeria is poised to make history as the first African country to present a blind athlete at the 2024 World Sambo Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan.

For the first time, Blind Sambo has been included in the championships, and Nigeria will be represented by Samuel Oladele Kekere, the only blind athlete from Africa expected to compete.

Kekere, an orange belt Judoka from Lagos State, began his journey in combat sports four years ago, and he will compete in the men’s SVI-1 class (totally blind athletes), joining his counterparts from around the world.

Kekere’s participation has been confirmed by Roman Novikov, Chairman of the FIAS Commission for Athletes with Disabilities, and Sheriff Hammed, the Vice President and General Secretary of the Sambo Association of Nigeria, who sees this as a groundbreaking opportunity.

Kekere will compete in the men’s 64kg category, while James Chegwam and Chairy Jatau will also represent Nigeria in the main event from November 8 to 10 at the Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov Martial Arts Palace in Astana. Athletes from 80 countries will vie for 31 medals over the three-day tournament.

Supported by Samsideen Ajala, Chairman of the Lagos State Road Transport Employee Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Nigeria’s contingent will depart today, November 6 aboard Turkish Airlines, filled with optimism about returning with medals.

An excited Kekere described this as a lifelong dream, expressing confidence in his chances of winning Nigeria’s first medal at the games. Jatau, the World Beach Sambo Champion, hopes to replicate her success in Morocco earlier this year.

“We are going there to make our country and families proud. We know it won’t be easy, but we are ready for the challenge,” Jatau said confidently.

The inclusion of “SAMBO for the Blind” in the World Championships highlights the growing recognition of blind athletes in combat sports. As Vasily Shestakov, President of FIAS, stated, “Sambists with health limitations show a great desire to compete on an equal basis with other athletes, demonstrating their steely will and fortitude.”