Kazakh Minister of Defense to head Federation of Sports and Combat Sambo
Kazakh Defense Minister Ruslan Zhaksylykov replaced Aidos Akzhanov as the head of the Kazakhstani Federation of Sports and Combat Sambo, Kazinform News Agency reports.
According to the Kazakh Defense Ministry, Zhaksylykov was elected at an extraordinary meeting of the Federation of Sports and Combat Sambo in Astana. All members of the federation voted unanimously in favor of his candidacy.
The new head is a distinguished master of sports of the USSR in judo, a many-time champion and a prize-winner of republican and international competitions in sambo and judo.
“I express my gratitude to the members of the federation for their productive work and the trust placed in me. Sports and combat sambo are planned to be introduced into the system of personnel training in military and law enforcement activities. We have a lot of work to do together to bring this sport to the masses, including as a military sport,” said Colonel General Ruslan Zhaksylykov.
He also revealed the plans of the Federation for the near future.
“Sambo will be included in the program of Military Sports Games of friendly armies of the CIS member states and in the Spartakiad of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2025. A series of activities has been meticulously planned to promote military-patriotic education among young people. The event will feature an open republican sambo tournament, held under the auspices of the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Plans include opening a sambo department in Almaty's Bauyrzhan Momyshuly Military Sports College, where children from large families, military personnel and rural youth will be given priority. For the purpose of mass development we will invite specialists-instructors of combat sambo to the ranks of the Armed Forces,” the President of the Federation shared.
It is noted that over 40,000 people go in for sambo across Kazakhstan.
It was earlier reported that the Kazakhstan Football Federation had elected a new president in Astana.
