By VIVIAN AHANMISI

Nigeria’s Rukayat Taiwo and Elizabeth Aseso are set to become the first African women to compete in Blind Sambo at the World Cup in Yerevan, Armenia.

The tournament runs from April 11 to April 12 and features Blind Sambo as one of three disciplines.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that men in the SVI1 class will compete in 64kg, 79kg and 98kg categories, while women contest 54kg and 59kg.

Taiwo, a Lagos State champion, will fight in the 54kg division, while Aseso competes in the 59kg category.

Sherif Hammed, Vice-President of the Nigeria Sambo Association, described the outing as another milestone for the country.

“Since our debut in 2024, Nigeria has been at the forefront of Blind Sambo, which is gaining global recognition, particularly within the Olympic community.

“We are set to become the first African nation to feature in female Blind Sambo at the World Cup and hope to make history with medals,” he said.

Nigeria’s rise has been steady. Samuel Oladele Kekere became the first Nigerian and African blind sambist at the 2024 World Cup.

Sodiq Ajibade later secured Africa’s first medal, winning bronze at the 2025 edition.

The 2026 World Cup will feature Sport Sambo, Combat Sambo and Blind Sambo.

Sport Sambo includes seven weight categories each for men and women.

Combat Sambo allows striking techniques and a broader range of moves, while Blind Sambo continues to expand globally.

The competition will hold at the Gazprom Training and Sports Complex, a modern venue built to international standards.

Organisers said classification for visually impaired athletes will begin on April 9.

Beyond medals, the World Cup aims to strengthen international ties, improve athlete rankings and advance Sambo’s Olympic aspirations. (NAN)