LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND – With just one month to go before the Riyadh 2023 World Combat Games, more than 1,500 athletes from over 120 nations have qualified for the tournament with more than 950 medals up for grabs.
Athletes from all over the world will come to compete at the highest level, not only to win medals, but also to represent their countries and achieve their personal best.
Athletes taking part include:
- Five-time Wushu world champion Shahrbanoo Mansourian from Iran competing in the sanda division is striving for Gold at the Riyadh World Combat Games and aspires to be “a legend for women in the world in this field.”
- Twice Wushu world champion Cui Bihui from China whose most memorable sporting moment was winning the 15th World Martial Arts Championships in 2019.
- Muaythai world champion fighters Oleh Pryimachov from Ukraine with a medal haul of 8 Golds, and Bediha Tacyildiz from Turkey who has won 10 Golds to date.
The third edition of the World Combat Games will be a historic event. Heralded as an inclusive multi-sports event, it will also feature the first Para-Combat Games, with 61 para and special athletes competing. As part of this initiative, athletes will take part in combined opening and closing ceremonies, and there will be a single medal table.
Stephan Fox, chair of the combat sports commented:
“In the world of martial arts and combat sports, this is an event like no other. The importance of equality, diversity and inclusivity runs through everything we do. In our world, the values of respect, determination, courage and honour are practiced daily.
“I would like to thank the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for supporting this significant decision, and for their continued work towards the Saudi Vision 2030 for a more active society.
“I have no doubt the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will deliver a breathtaking and memorable event with specially created areas for fans to get involved across the tournament when the World Combat Games opens in Riyadh.”
Fans can find out when their favourite sports will be in action on the official tournament schedule. Tickets can be bought online at https://tickets.riyadh2023.com/. Complimentary tickets will also be available for schools, academies and regional clubs providing the bridge between elite and grassroots sport.
Fans who are unable to attend the games will be able to watch live action provided by broadcasters across the globe and the Olympic Channel.
With just under a month to go before the Opening Ceremony begins, excitement is growing at pace as engagement between athletes, fans and clubs around the world has almost doubled in recent weeks.
The 2023 World Combat Games will also strictly follow the recommended conditions of participation set out by the International Olympic Committee (published March 2023), for individual neutral athletes and support personnel holding a Russian or Belarusian passport. These conditions include no national flags, logos or anthems; no connection to the armed services; and no support for the war against Ukraine in interviews, social media and so on.
For more information and updates on the Riyadh 2023 World Combat Games, please visit the official website.
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EDITORS NOTES
The 2023 World Combat Games is set to take place from 20-30 October 2023 at the
King Saud University Arena in Riyadh. Sixteen sports will compete including: Aikido, Armwrestling, Boxing, Fencing, Judo, Ju-jitsu, Karate, Kendo, Kickboxing, Muaythai, Sambo, Savate, Sumo, Taekwondo, Wrestling and Wushu.
The 61 para and special athletes will be competing in the World Combat Games in six sports: Aikido (1 athlete), Armwrestling (16 athletes), Ju-jitsu (24 athletes), Muaythai (8 athletes), Sambo (8 athletes) and Savate (4 athletes).
