A bust dedicated to one of sambo's founders has been placed in Novosibirsk ©RSF

A bust dedicated to Vasily Oshchepkov, one of the founders of sambo, has been unveiled in Russian city Novosibirsk. 

Officials held a special unveiling ceremony where a memorial plaque was also revealed.

Aleksandr Karelin, a triple Olympic gold medallist in wrestling and now a Russian senator, spoke at the event.

A speech was also made by Kulanov Evgenievich, who has written a book about Oshchepkov.

Novosibirsk becomes the latest Russian city to reveal a monument dedicated to sambo.

Triple Olympic wrestling champion Aleksandr Karelin was present at the unveiling ©RSF
Triple Olympic wrestling champion Aleksandr Karelin was present at the unveiling ©RSF

On November 16, another statue is due to be revealed at the Luzhniki Sports Complex in Moscow.

This will be in tribute to Oshchepkov and the two other founders of sambo – Victor Spiridonov and Anatol Kharlampiev.

November 16 has been chosen as this is the day when the Russian martial art celebrates its formation.

Sambo was registered as a sports discipline in the Soviet Union on November 16, 1938. 

Russia enjoyed a predictably dominant World Championships in Novi Sad in Serbia last week, winning 17 golds at the top of the medals table.