Filipina fighter Aislinn Agnes Yap has climbed to the top of the Women’s Combat Sambo 80kg world rankings, placing the Philippines squarely on the international sambo map — and sparking a renewed push to develop talent at home.
The 25-year-old’s ascent is the latest milestone in a growing movement to transform Philippine sambo from a niche sport into a national success story. And now, with two Filipinas ranked world number one, the momentum is hard to ignore.
World Ranking Glory That Didn’t Happen Overnight
Aislinn Yap didn’t just win a few matches and get lucky. Her rise to the top took guts, grit, and months of unrelenting performance on the global stage.
Backed by a cumulative 1,320 points, Yap overtook former frontrunner Anzhela Gasparian of Russia, who now trails with 1,110 points. Uzbekistan’s Mavluda Abdualleava sits just behind, rounding out the top three.
The rankings, updated by the International Sambo Federation (FIAS), are based on consistent podium finishes — and Yap’s been a fixture there lately.
She took home bronze at the 2025 World SAMBO Cup in Yerevan, Armenia, sharing the spotlight with fellow Filipina Sydney Sy Tancontian, who herself reigns at No. 1 in the +80kg division.
Yap’s big breakout? That came last October, when she grabbed gold at the Korea Open Sambo Championships. That win gave her both confidence and serious ranking points.
Two Filipinas, Two World No. 1s — A Turning Point for Sambo Pilipinas
Let’s stop and take that in: two women from the Philippines, sitting at the very top of their respective divisions in a combat sport long dominated by Russians and Central Asians.
It’s not just historic. It’s a signal that Filipino fighters can hang with — and beat — the best.
For Sambo Pilipinas, the governing body led by Paolo Tancontian, it’s also validation. Years of quiet investment, low-budget camps, and athlete development are now bearing global fruit.
Tancontian’s daughter, Sydney, is one of the stars. But it’s the rise of Yap, less known until recently, that suggests the Philippines is building depth in talent.
“This isn’t an accident,” said one national coach. “These girls are working day and night — and now the world knows.”
Grassroots Growth: From Barangays to the Big Stage
Success at the top is great. But what’s happening on the ground might be just as important.
Tancontian recently laid out a slow-but-steady plan to expand grassroots training for sambo in rural provinces. The strategy: find raw talent where it’s least expected.
“We’ll go step by step,” he said in a Mindanao Lens interview. “After Davao, let’s see where we go next.”
The plan targets barangay-level sports programs — often the only access point to organized athletics for youth in remote areas. The goal is to unearth future stars early and get them coaching, gear, and competition.
This model mirrors successful systems in judo and taekwondo, where local tournaments feed into regional programs, and eventually into national training pools.
• Grassroots focus is on underserved provinces
• Barangays to serve as recruitment hubs
• Priority given to access, inclusion, and coaching consistency
“Dahan-dahan lang,” Tancontian reminded — loosely, “Let’s take it slow.” That doesn’t mean they’re not ambitious. It means they’re being real.
A Closer Look at the Women’s Sambo World Rankings
Here’s a quick snapshot of the Women’s Combat Sambo 80kg standings as of June 2025:
| Rank | Athlete | Country | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aislinn Agnes Yap | Philippines | 1,320 |
| 2 | Anzhela Gasparian | Russia | 1,110 |
| 3 | Mavluda Abdualleava | Uzbekistan | 1,050 |
| 4 | Sofia Kravchenko | Belarus | 970 |
| 5 | Selma Sharifova | Kazakhstan | 920 |
This isn’t a leaderboard with room for error. Everyone in the top five is capable of snapping a limb if given a second too long in a hold. Yap isn’t just surviving — she’s dominating.
Eyes on the Next Medal, But the Mission is Bigger
No one’s pretending it’s all smooth sailing from here. Combat sports are brutal. Injuries happen. Support still lags behind more established disciplines like boxing or wushu.
But Yap knows that every tournament is an audition — not just for her own future, but for the sport’s place in Philippine society.
And people are watching.
The Philippines’ combat sports community has always been passionate — think Manny Pacquiao or the jiu-jitsu boom. Now, sambo’s knocking at the door.
Tancontian is careful not to overhype things. He’s seen trends come and go. But the mix of world-class results, humble athlete origins, and a practical grassroots strategy might just be enough to stick.
For Yap, the next target is simple: stay on top, keep improving, and maybe, just maybe, inspire the next Aislinn from a far-flung province no one’s scouting yet.
