Fedor Emelianenko: Everything is joyful at the World Championships in Tashkent, it is a sambo holiday

- Fedor, congratulations, Happy birthday to you! How pleasant is it to receive gifts here at the World Cup, during the opening of the competition?

- Thank you so much for the presents! Thank you, Vasily Borisovich (Shestakov), as always, he celebrates the outstanding sambists in history at the World Championships. Thank you to the International Sambo Federation. I am very glad that my work deserves such recognition. But I haven't finished my career yet, we're going to fight for awards (smiles)

- How do you assess the role of Vasily Shestakov in the development of world sambo?

- Thank God that the head of the World Sambo Federation is this man who, first of all, picked up a decent team. All the guys live it directly and promote this sport by all means. The whole world sambo sees this, sees this colossal work. Under Vasily Borisovich, sambo stepped not even one step, but directly reached a new level.

- What are your first impressions of this tournament, which is hospitable to Tashkent?

- It's a great inner joy. As a former sambist, I respect this modern arena in the Olympic Park of the Uzbek capital and the atmosphere created by local fans. It was very pleasant to be on stage next to outstanding athletes, multiple champions in this type of martial arts. It’s also a great joy to see so many legends in one place. This is very important for the promotion of our sport.

I am sure that Tashkent will hold this championship at a high level, and we will witness an interesting and uncompromising struggle on the carpet. It's all good. It's a sambo festival.

There are two Ambassadors of the Sambo World – you and Islam Makhachev. As you know, “God loves the Trinity.” Who do you see as the “third hero” on this list?

This is a very provocative question (laughs). I am ready to give up my place, because there are many worthy people in the world today to join the sambo ambassadors. Everyone who stood on stage today at the opening ceremony deserves it. So I can step aside and make room for them. And this, of course, is not all who are eminent, famous champions in sambo.

- You have been the Ambassador of Sambo in the world for several years, but Makhachev received this title recently. How well does Islam play this role?

- Of course Islam is worthy. He's a sambo teacher and he talks about it everywhere. The example of Makhachev, once again proves that Sambo is the best type for related martial arts. Therefore, Islam is greatly respected and thanked for bearing this duty with honor and respect.

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MK-Sport continues to closely follow all the events of the 50th World Sambo Championship in Tashkent and tell you about the most exciting fights, behind the scenes intrigues and bright moments of the tournament right from the epicenter of events. Do not miss exclusive reports, interviews with legends and detailed analysis of the key fights of the anniversary world championship