AISLINN Yap, a bronze medalist at the 2025 Chengdu World Games, emerged as the top achiever at the World Sambo Championships in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, securing fifth place in the combat sambo adult women’s 80 kg division.
Yap’s run was halted in the quarterfinals by home favorite Meerimai Nuradilova. The match ended 0-2 on technical points, with the Filipino athlete conceding the loss after accumulating four penalties against Nuradilova’s two decisive technical scores.
Yap, who is currently ranked among the world’s elite in her category, was unable to convert her aggressive striking into scoring opportunities on the mat.
The fifth-place finish underscores Yap’s consistent performance at the global level. However, the quarterfinal defeat highlighted the tight margins in the elite competition. Yap’s opponent, Nuradilova, a strong grappler, went on to claim a bronze medal.
The final podium in the division saw Ukraine’s Anhelina Velychko clinch the gold, Kazakhstan’s Ulbossyn Adilova take the silver, and Nuradilova sharing the bronze with Iana Kozyreva. Adilova is a familiar rival, having defeated Yap in the semi-finals of the 2025 World Games.
The Philippines fielded a three-person team, but the other two athletes, Jomary Torres and Marwin Quirante, faced early exits in the Round of 16.
Meanwhile JomarynTorres fell to Mongolia’s Nandin-erdene Oyun-erdene in the women’s 50 kg combat sambo division and
Marwin Quiranten lost his men’s 58 kg combat sambo bout to Kazakhstan’s Arman Turumbetov.
Despite the early elimination of Torres and Quirante, the team’s participation against the world’s top Sambo nations marks the continued development of the sport in the Philippines.
The Philippine sambo team competed under the guidance of national coaches Jerry Legaspi and Sydney Sy Tancontian, the latter being a highly decorated Sambo athlete herself. The squad will now focus on preparations for the 2026 Asian Games, where Sambo is slated to be featured for the first time.
