World Combat Games 2023: Preview, full schedule, and how to watch live action on Olympic Channel

The 2023 World Combat Games sees 16 combat sports come together, including Paris 2024 Olympic sports judo, taekwondo, wrestling, fencing, and boxing.

1700 top athletes from over 80 countries are participating in the event, that you can watch live on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the official Olympics app.

The third edition of Games, taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, begins with the first competitions on 20 October and runs until 30 October.

Find all the sports, the schedule and how to watch the live action below.

• How to qualify for judo at Paris 2024. The Olympics qualification system explained
• How to qualify for taekwondo at Paris 2024. The Olympics qualification system explained

What sports are at the 2023 World Combat Games?

Athletes will be competing in 16 different combat sports at 2023 World Combat Games:

• Aikido
• Armwrestling
• Boxing
• Fencing
• Judo
• Ju-jitsu
• Karate
• Kendo
• Kickboxing
• Muaythai
• Sambo (Russian Wrestling)
• Savate (French Boxing)
• Sumo
• Taekwondo
• Wrestling (Traditional Wrestling:GR,PK,GP,AL,KK)
• Wushu

Six parasports have also been added for the 2023 edition:

• Aikido
• Muaythai
• Armwrestling
• Ju-Jitsu
• Sambo
• Savate

Athletes to watch at the 2023 World Combat Games

The 2023 World Combat Games is full of big names in some of the sports and future stars in others.

In karate, gold medallist at the African Championships, Abdel Ali Jina of Morocco and Asian champion Mohammad Aljafari of Jordan are among the participating athletes.

Four-time world champion Oleh Pryimachov of Ukraine and five-time world champion Bediha Tacyildiz of Türkiye lead the field in the Muaythai competitions.

Also kickboxing will showcase some of the best in the world with British four-time world champion Christopherr Aston, as well as Italian three-time world champion Elena Pantaleo.

Indonesia’s triple gold medallist from the latest World Wushu Champioships, Edgar Xavier Marvelo, and five-time Wushu world champion Shahrbano Mansouriyan Semiromi of Iran will be hoping to fight for gold in Riyadh.

In jiu-jitsu, five-time JJIF world champion Khaled Al Shehhi of the United Arab Emirates is one of the stars to look out for.

2023 World Combat Games: Schedule

All times below are AST local time (GMT+3) and subject to change.

Thursday 19 October

• 20:00-21:30 - Opening Ceremony

Friday 20 October

• 14:00-15:00 - Sambo Semi-finals
• 15:00-16:00 - Karate Semi-finals
• 16:00-18:30 - Sambo Finals
• 18:30-20:15 - Karate Finals
• 20:15-22:30 - Boxing Semi-finals

Saturday 21 October

• 12:30-13:45 - Sambo Semi-finals
• 13:45-15:00 - Sambo Bronze
• 15:00-16:00 - Karate Semi-finals
• 16:00-17:30 - Boxing Semi-finals
• 16:00-17:40 - Sambo Finals
• 17:30-18:30 - Karate Bronze
• 17:40-19:00 - Sumo Qualification
• 18:30-20:15 - Karate Finals
• 19:00-20:45 - Sumo Semi-finals + Finals
• 20:15-22:15 - Boxing Finals

Sunday 22 October

• 16:00-18:40 -Wushu Finals
• 18:40-19:40 -Wushu Finals
• 19:40-20:30 - Sumo Semi-finals + Finals

Monday 23 October

• 15:00-16:00 - Judo Semi-finals + Repechage
• 16:00-18:00 - Wrestling Bronze + Finals
• 18:00-18:30 - Judo Bronze
• 18:30-19:00 - Wrestling Bronze + Finals
• 19:00-20:00 - Judo Final
• 20:00-21:00 - Wrestling Bronze + Finals

Tuesday 24 October

• 14:00-15:00 - Wrestling Semi-finals
• 14:00-17:00 - Jiu Jitsu Qualification
• 15:00-16:00 - Aikido
• 16:00-21:00 - Wrestling Bronze + Finals
• 18:30-19:30 - Jiu Jitsu Bronze
• 19:30-20:00 - Aikido
• 20:00-22:00 - Jiu Jitsu Finals

Wednesday 25 October

• 14:00-17:30 - Jiu Jitsu Qualification
• 14:30-15:15 - Fencing Qualification
• 15:15-16:00 - Wrestling Semi-finals
• 16:00-21:00 - Wrestling Finals
• 17:30-18:30 - Aikido
• 18:30-19:30 - Jiu Jitsu Bronze
• 19:30-20:00 - Aikido
• 20:00-21:45 - Jiu Jitsu Finals
• 21:00-23:00 - Fencing Semi-finals + Finals

Thursday 26 October

• 14:00-15:30 - Jiu Jitsu Qualification
• 15:00-16:00 - Wrestling Semi-finals
• 15:30-19:30 - Kickboxing Semi-finals
• 16:00-21:00 - Wrestling Finals
• 19:30-21:00 - Jiu Jitsu Bronze
• 21:00-22:45 - Jiu Jitsu Finals
• 21:00-23:00 - Fencing Finals

Friday 27 October

• 15:00-19:30 Kickboxing Finals
• 16:30-17:30 Armwrestling Semi-finals
• 17:30-20:30 Armwrestling Finals
• 19:30-23:30 Fencing Finals

Saturday 28 October

• 14:00-16:00 Savate Semi-finals + Finals
• 16:30-17:30 Armwrestling Semi-finals
• 17:30-20:30 Armwrestling Finals
• 20:30-22:00 Savate Finals

Sunday 29 October

• 13:00-15:45 Muaythai Semi-finals
• 14:30-16:30 Savate Semi-finals
• 15:45-17:00 Taekwondo Semi-finals
• 16:30-17:00 Savate Bronze + Finals
• 17:00-18:00 Savate Semi-finals
• 17:00-19:45 Muaythai Semi-finals
• 18:00-18:45 Kendo
• 18:45-20:00 Savate Finals
• 19:45-21:00 Taekwondo Semi-finals

Monday 30 October

• 13:00-19:00 Muaythai Finals
• 14:00-15:00 Kendo
• 15:00-16:00 Taekwondo Finals
• 16:00-17:00 Taekwondo Semi-finals
• 17:00-18:00 Kendo
• 18:00-19:30 Taekwondo Finals
• 19:00-20:30 Savate Finals
• 19:30-23:00 Savate Finals
• 21:30-22:30 Closing Ceremony (TBD)

How to watch the 2023 World Combat Games

You can livestream the 2023 World Combat Games on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the official Olympics app for mobile devices (territorial restrictions may apply).

A full list of other broadcasters can be found here.