Guinea celebrated its recognition with a ceremony in Conakry ©Guinea Sambo

The Guinean Federation of Sambo and Associated Disciplines has celebrated recognition from the Ministry of Youth and Sports by holding an event with 400 people in the capital city Conakry.

It featured sambists from the country as well as representatives from other National Federations.

"It was the baptism of the federation after the conclusion of important agreements with the Ministry of Youth and Sports of the country," said Amadou Sadigou Bah, President of the Guinean Federation of Sambo and Associated Disciplines.

"We agreed on joint steps to develop sport and combat sambo, as well as applied sambo, to teach self-defence to citizens of the country."

He added that the ceremony was to showcase the sport to increase its popularity in Guinea.

400 participants were at the "baptism" of Guinea Sambo ©Guinea Sambo
400 participants were at the "baptism" of Guinea Sambo ©Guinea Sambo

"We want to attract as many interested athletes as possible to our sport, as well as strengthen ties with National Federations for other sports, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the National Olympic Committee and the Guinean Sports Committee," added Sadigou Bah.

"We also want to show that sambo is the best martial art, and the state can count on our victories in the international arena."

Secretary general of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Guinea, Billy Kaba, was one of those in attendance and he praised the opportunity that young people have with the different weight categories, sports and disciplines.

Sadigou Bah mentioned that the National Federation plans to hold sambo seminars for coaches and referees of Guinea, as well as a National Championship.