MINSK, 28 December (BelTA) – The Belarusian national sambo team plans to win more than ten medals at the 2nd European Games in Minsk in June 2019, head coach of the national team Vyacheslav Kot told the media during a ceremony to honor the athletes in the Sport and Tourism Ministry on 28 December following the 2018 World Sambo Championship in Bucharest, BelTA has learned.
“At the 2nd European Games in June 2019 we expect to win some 10-13 medals. It is not easy to perform at the home arena. We hope our fans will support us,” said Vyacheslav Kot. The head coach also said that competing at the 2nd European Games will be one of the leaders of the Belarusian national sambo team, champion of the 1st European Games in Baku Stepan Popov.
Belarusian Sport and Tourism Minister Sergei Kovalchuk emphasized a high level of Belarusian sambo wrestlers who win medals at every international event.
At the 2018 World Sambo Championship in Romania Belarusian athletes won 12 (2 gold, 5 silver and 5 bronze) medals. Gold medals were clinched by Tatiana Matsko (weight category – 64kg) and Svetlana Timoshenko (80kg).
Sambo makes part of the competition program of the 2nd European Games in Minsk. In June 2019, 144 athletes will compete in 18 medal events at the Minsk Palace of Sports.