PH sambo athlete Yap climbs to top spot in world rankings

OWING to her recent victories on the international stage, Filipina sambo athlete Aislinn Agnes Yap has ascended to the top of the International Sambo Federation (FIAS) rankings.

Yap now leads the Women’s Combat Sambo 80kg division, joining the summit with fellow Filipina standout Sydney Sy Tancontian, who holds the no. 1 spot in the Women’s Sambo +80kg category.

Yap earned a total of 1,320 cumulative points, placing her ahead of Russia’s Anzhela Gasparian (FIAS1) with 1,110 points, and Uzbekistan’s Mavluda Abdualleava.

Her rise in the rankings is the result of consistent performances and key victories in international competitions.

Most recently, Yap and Tancontian competed in the 2025 World SAMBO Cup held in Yerevan, Armenia, where both athletes brought home bronze medals.

Yap’s winning momentum dates back to October 2024, when she clinched the gold in her division at the Korea Open Sambo Championships.

With Philippine sambo athletes achieving international success, Sambo Pilipinas President Paolo Tancontian has announced plans to expand grassroots training programs across the country.

The initiative aims to identify and nurture promising athletes at the barangay level, especially in underserved provinces.

“Dahan-dahan lang muna tayo. After Davao, tingnan natin kung saan tayo susunod—one step at a time,” Tancontian said in an interview with Mindanao Lens.

He emphasized that the expansion will focus on developing local talent and ensuring long-term growth for the sport.Sambo Pilipinas first gained widespread recognition in 2019 after emerging as the overall champion in the Southeast Asian Games (SEAG).

Since then, the national sports association has continued to earn medals in global competitions, establishing the Philippines as a rising force in the sambo world.

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