Mano Israel Triumphs in Inaugural National Sambo Competition in Burkina Faso

OUAGADOUGOU — Mano Israel emerged as the champion in the over 98 kg men’s combat category at the first edition of the national Sambo competition, a martial art of Russian origin, held on Saturday in Ouagadougou.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the competition, which took place in their martial arts hall, saw the participation of 48 athletes from Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Russia. Israel clinched the title by defeating his opponent, Leila Abdoul Malick, in a keenly contested final in the men’s over 98 kg combat category.

The national Sambo competition, organized by the Burkinabe Sambo Sports Association in partnership with African initiatives and a Russian-Burkinabe association, represents a confluence of various martial arts disciplines including boxing, wrestling, judo, and karate. This event marks a significant milestone in promoting Sambo in Burkina Faso and in the region.

Mano Israel, a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) practitioner, is not new to the international martial arts scene. He was previously crowned the world champion of Viet vo dao in 2019 in Marseille, France, and secured the vice-champion title in the same discipline in 2018 in Brussels, Belgium. His victory in this inaugural Sambo competition adds another accolade to his impressive martial arts career.