The organizing committee of the 2023 Riyadh World Combat Games is thrilled to declare that 1,657 athletes from over 80 countries have successfully qualified for the tournament. This remarkable sporting spectacle, hosted for the first time in the Middle East, will take place from October 20 – 30, 2023, at the King Saud University Arena in the nation’s capital city of Riyadh.
The 2023 Riyadh World Combat Games have captured substantial interest within the global combat sports community, drawing top-tier athletes from across the globe to compete in 16 combat disciplines, including Aikido, Boxing, Fencing, Judo, Ju-Jitsu, Karate, Kendo, Armwrestling, Kickboxing, Muaythai, Sambo, Savate, Sumo, Taekwondo, Wrestling and Wushu.
International sports federations have submitted their final rosters of qualified competitors, bringing the grand total to 913 male and 744 female athletes eagerly contending for a coveted podium finish.
There has been an impressive turnout across all disciplines including: 144 Fencers, 136 athletes in Ju-Jitsu, 100 Aikidokas , 96 Armwrestlers, 96 Karate fighters, 96 Kickboxers, 92 Savate practitioners, 88 Sambo athletes, 88 Taekwondo players, 88 Muaythai fighters, 84 Judokas, 80 Sumo wrestlers, 80 Wushu athletes, 69 Kendōkas and 32 Boxers. Wrestling claims the highest participation, boasting an impressive roster of 288 athletes.
Moreover, 56 athletes of determination have earned their position in the tournament, marking the historic inauguration of the Para-Combat Games. These remarkable athletes consist of 38 men and 18 women, with 16 participating in Armwrestling, 24 in Ju-Jitsu, 8 in Muaythai and 8 in Sambo.
Fans can visit the official tournament schedule to find out when their favourite sports will be in action.
Hosting the World Combat Games continues to support the 2030 vision and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s commitment to advancing sports and fostering international cooperation. Previous editions were held in Beijing, China in 2010 and St. Petersburg, Russia in 2013.
For more information and updates on the 2023 Riyadh World Combat Games, please visit the official website.