Rukayat Suleimon: Nigeria's First Gold and a New Era for Women in Blind SAMBO

Nigeria's Rukayat Suleimon has written her name into the history of SAMBO. At the World SAMBO Cup in Yerevan, Armenia, she became the first female blind sambist in the world to win a gold medal at a major international tournament organised by the International SAMBO Federation (FIAS) – and did so on her very first appearance at the international level.

A Historic Debut

The World SAMBO Cup in Yerevan brought together elite athletes from across the globe in three disciplines: Sport SAMBO, Combat SAMBO, and Blind SAMBO. It was the latter that produced the occasion's most defining moment: for the first time in the history of FIAS-organised competition, women took part in Blind SAMBO at the international level. Suleimon and her compatriot Elizabeth Aseso – representing not only Nigeria but the entire African continent – were among that pioneering group.

A Lagos State judo champion, Suleimon stepped onto the SAMBO mat in the women's -54kg category as a complete newcomer to international competition. Her debut, however, was anything but ordinary. After strong performance in the preliminary bouts, she advanced to the final, where she faced Uzbekistan's Charos Ortikova. The opening exchanges did not go in Suleimon's favour, but she regrouped, took control of the match, and closed it out with a commanding 13-2 victory.

Her teammate Elizabeth Aseso, competing in the women's -59kg category, did not reach the podium. Even so, the participation of both Nigerian athletes – as members of the first women's field in the history of international Blind SAMBO – was itself a landmark.

A Role Model

By the following morning, Suleimon had become a household name. Nigerian media picked up the story immediately, covering her achievement in detail. The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, issued a public congratulation, praising her as “an inspiration and role model for young girls across Nigeria who dare to dream big.”

Sherif Hammed, Vice President of the SAMBO Association of Nigeria, described the moment as historic – not just for his country, but for the continent as a whole.

“For Nigeria to produce the first blind sambist to win gold at the World Cup is humbling. It is not just a victory for Nigeria but for Africa,” he said. “This performance proves that with the right support, Nigeria can consistently compete at the highest level. It sends a strong message that disability is not inability, and it reinforces our mission to create opportunities for visually impaired athletes to excel and represent Africa on the world stage.”

Suleimon herself was open about the challenges she faced. “It was not easy – I was nervous in each bout since it was my first international tournament. But I conquered my fear and gave my best. I am excited and grateful to God for making this possible,” she said. “I hope to compete more internationally and look forward to the World SAMBO Championships in November.”

Nigeria's Rising Trajectory in Blind SAMBO

Suleimon's gold is the latest and most significant chapter in a remarkable run of progress. In 2024, Samuel Oladele Kekere became the first Nigerian and African blind sambist to compete at the World SAMBO Championships, in Kazakhstan. A year later, Sodiq Ajibade stepped onto the podium with a bronze medal at the World Championships in Kyrgyzstan. Now, in 2026, Suleimon has gone one step further – and reached the top.

“Three major achievements in three years show the trajectory of growth and reflect the work the Nigeria Sambo Association is doing to develop Blind SAMBO,” Sherif Hammed said.

More Than a Personal Victory

Beyond the individual achievement, the debut of women in international Blind SAMBO competition represents a structural milestone for the sport. FIAS has worked consistently to broaden the reach of SAMBO – not only geographically, but across categories of athletes. The inclusion of women in the Blind SAMBO program at the World Cup level is a tangible expression of that commitment.

For Nigeria, and for Rukayat Suleimon personally, this result is only the beginning. The World SAMBO Championships in November – where women will also compete in Blind SAMBO for the first time – is already firmly in her sights.