Novikov, a member of the International Sambo Federation (FIAS) Commission for Athletes with Disabilities, was chosen to lead the FIAS entity during its recent general meeting.

"One way or another, our foundation has always participated in the organisation of the Russian Sambo Championships for the Blind and in other projects related to the development of sambo for the blind and visually impaired," said Novikov.

"I hope that in the future, donors will pay due attention to the Sambo for the Blind Foundation, which will allow us to more dynamically develop sambo for the blind and visually impaired already at the international level."

Blind sambo development began in 2010 and the first domestic tournament in the discipline was held in December 2011 in Moscow in Russia.

In 2015, the Russian Ministry of Sports officially recognised the discipline, and the Russian Sambo Championships for blind and visually impaired athletes have been held annually since 2017.

At the 2019 FIAS Congress, Novikov made a presentation about blind sambo and later that year a demonstration group of blind and visually impaired athletes put on a showcase at the World Sambo Championships in Cheongju in South Korea.

The discipline was given a further boost last year, when international blind sambo rules were approved by the FIAS.