Bukharian Coach Edik Paltielov Guides Israeli Sambo Sisters to Medals in Dushanbe

Dushanbe hosted the 2026 Sambo World Cup on Sept. 19–20, where Israeli sisters Shaked and Rony Nisimian reached the podium in combat sambo: Shaked, 23, took gold at 72 kg, and Rony, 26, took silver at 59 kg. Behind them was coach Edik Paltielov, a Dushanbe native and Bukharian Jewish community member who has spent decades building sambo in Israel.

In an interview with Moishe Sabirov for The Bukharian Times, Paltielov said the sisters are from Moldova, came to his program after a jiu-jitsu federation conflict, and have trained with the Israeli group for three to four years. Shaked won the 2025 World Games in Chengdu; for Rony, Dushanbe was her second competition and first in combat sambo. “Pride,” Paltielov said of seeing both in the finals. He added that Rony led her final but risked a late throw while ahead—a lesson he prefers at a Cup before the World Championships.

Paltielov trained in sambo under Ismat Abdulaev, graduated from the Institute of Physical Culture, immigrated to Israel in 1990, began coaching in 1991, and since 2004 has worked with Pavel Musin at a club in Rishon LeZion. He described a small Israeli sambo scene of only a few clubs competing against far deeper Russian systems, yet said youth recently took two medals in Thessaloniki and that Shaked and Rony are preparing for the adult World Championships in Tashkent in November.

“Without dreams, there would be no point in working,” he said, hoping Israel can climb toward the top of team standings. Sabirov closed by calling him a pride of the Bukharian community.

Sources: The Bukharian Times. AI-generated editorial illustration accompanying this report; not a documentary photograph or official promotional image.