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The tournament was organised by the Sambo-70 centre of sports education and the League S-70. Athletes from Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Bulgaria, Austria, Venezuela, the United States and South Africa competed in this year’s event.

Along with Mr Putin, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev also watched the competition, as did the members of the Dynamo Hockey Club, with whom the President met earlier in the day.

In the team competition, Russia’s team won with a score of 4:1. Mr Putin took part in the award ceremony.

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Speech at the award ceremony at the International Professional Combat Sambo Tournament

Vladimir Putin: Strength, courage and noble spirit are what distinguish the fighters standing in the ring at this moment, along with the brotherhood of sports and combat. I say combat, because they are the most vivid example of what martial arts are about.

Thank you guys. Good luck!

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Let me thank our guests here today. Here in Russia, we have always valued and respected men who know how to stand firm to the last.