Armenian wrestlers and boxers won 6 medals

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian wrestlers will have a team practice session together with Ossetians in Vladikavkaz between March 6 and 20. “Starting from March 28, we are having the last practice session in Yerevan, after which we’ll participate in 2010 Europe Championship,” Baghdadyan said.

Boxing: Armenian boxers led by head coach Rafael Mehrabyan returned from the international tournament in Bulgaria with 2 medals. Hovhannes Danielyan (w/c 48) won gold; Vladimir Hayrapetyan (w/c 64) came 3rd in his weight class.

Arthur Abraham (Germany) vs. Andre Dirrell (USA) battle scheduled for March 6 fight was postponed to March 27. Direll suffered a back injury in training and was unable to move forward with the scheduled date of March 6. The the venue is still discussed.

Abraham-Dirrell is the first of three scheduled fights in the second stage of Showtime’s Super Six Tournament. Abraham is currently training for the fight in California. According to Meyer, Abraham will likely remain in the U.S. to continue his training camp and return to Germany following the March fight.

Abraham's coach Ulli Wegner meanwhile questions the validity of Andre Dirrell's back injury. "How can he [Dirrell] already know that he'll be 100% fit by March 27? When someone gets injured he can't say the exact date of his recovery. Camp Dirrell just want to play mind games with us, but this won't give them any advantage. Arthur is staying focused and won't get thrown off track.”

Abraham, who is the current leader following the knockout win, had moved his camp to the United States on Feb. 8 in anticipation of the Dirrell fight. “Of course, I was disappointed when I first heard of the postponement,” Abraham said. “But I am happy to take on Dirrell on March 27. I want him to be in top shape so that he has no excuses once I am done with him. “My training has gone very well thus far. I am in great shape, and I will defend my tournament lead against him,” he added.

Susi Kentikian, the WBAК and WIBF flyweight champion of Armenian origin (Germany) is training in the most popular resort of Austria, Zelden. The German boxer is getting prepared to her fight in Germany on April 24, which is going to be the main event. She will be fighting with another German boxer Nadia Raoui (WIBA title).

Weightlifitng: On February 21-23, Yerevan State Olympic Reserve College was hosting Armenian Weightlifting Championship.

Women’s Weightlifting Championship gold went to: Isabella Yalyan (weight category 53kg), Elen Grigoryan (weight category 55kg), Alla Samvelyan (weight category 63kg), Kristine Petrosyan (weight category 69kg), Meline Daluzyan (weight category 75kg) and Hripsime Khurshudyan (weight category +75kg).

Men’s Weightlifting Championship gold went to: Mais Tatosyan (weight category 56kg), Vanik Avetisyan (weight category 62kg), David Muradyan (weight category 69kg), Aghasi Aghasyan (weight category 77kg) and Gevorg Poghosyan (weight category 85kg), Armenian Weightlifting Federation secretary general, Pashik Alaverdyan told PanARMENAIN.Net reporter.

As was earlier reported by head coach of Armenian Team Ashot Mkitaryan, based on championship results, Armenian team will be formed to participate in European Weightlifting Championship.

Chess: Armenian grandmaster Levon Aronian came 3rd at Linares chess tournament. Scoring 5.5 points, Aronian drew 9 games and won one victory over Azerbaijan’s Vugar Gashimov in the last round. Bulgaria’s Veselin Topalov won the tournament with 6.5 points.

The World Chess Federation (FIDE) has issued the list of chess players for Grand Prix final to be held in Astrakhan, Russia, from May 9 to 25. Levon Aronian, the winner of 2009 Grand Prix will not be participating, according to an agreement with FIDE.

Armenia will be represented by Vladimir Akopian. Other participants are: Boris Gelfand (Israel), Peter Leko (Hungary), Vassily Ivanchuk, Ruslan Ponomarev, Pavel Elyanov (Ukraine). Peter Svidler, Dmitry Yakovenko, Evgeny Alekseev, Ernesto Inakriev (Russia), Vugar Gashimov, Teimour Radjabov, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan) and Yue Wang (China).

Women will play in Nalchik, Russia, from April 25 to May 8. Participants: Elina Danielyan, Lilit Mkrtchyan (Armenia), Humpy Koneru (India), Zhao Xue, Yifan Hou (China) Zhu Chen (Qatar). Pia Cramling (Sweden), Nana Dzagnidze (Georgia), Tatiana Kosintseva, Baira Kovanova (Russia), Batkhuyag Munguntuul (Mongolia) and Betul Yildiz (Turkey).

Winter Olympic Games: Armenian skier Ani-Matilda Serebrakian withdrew from the giant slalom race at Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games on February 24. 15 more skiers also fell by the wayside.

Armenia's Arsen Nersisyan will race on February 27.

Football: During a team practice session in Turkey, FC Khimki played first friendly match against Kayrat of Almaty on Friday, February 19.

Armenian team goalkeeper Roman Berezovski and football player of Armenian decent Arsen Hovhannesyan were included in FC.

Khimki beat Kayrat 3:2, with Arsen Hovhannesyan scoring the second goal.

In the second friendly, Khimki tied against Volgar Gazprom Astrakhan. Arsen Hovhannesyan entered the field as a substitute in the 51st minute of the game.

FC Gandzasar, representing Armenia at Turkmenbashi Cup traditional international tournament, were defeated 1:2 by Tajik Vahsh. The only goal was scored by Artak Oseyan.

The prize fund of the annual Turkmenistan President’s Cup totals $35 000. The winners will be awarded $20 000. Silver and bronze winners will get $10 000 and $5 000 respectively.

The second round of the Romania’s Football Championship has started. FC Steaua, where the Armenain football players, Artavazd and Arman Karamanyan are playing, lost FC Chakhlauli with score 1:3.

Artavazd Karamyan made his debut in the official matches of FC Steaua, playing as a substitute on 73 minutes of the game.

Steaua ranks 3, scoring 34 on Romania’s Football Championship. Steaua’s next match will be held on February 28.

Basketball: Basketball Federation of Armenia awarded the winners and champions of Armenia in 2009 among women and men.

Women’s Hatis received the Cup and gold medals, Gyumri Grand Candy came second and third respectively. Polytechnic became the champions among men, followed by Hatis and FIMA. Sports School Ajapnyak was recognized the best sports school of 2009.

On the whole, the work of the Basketball Federation in 2009 was rated as "good".

On February 20, Basketball Federation of Armenia elected a president. The only candidate was the current president of Federation Hrachya Rostomyan, who was unanimously re-elected for another 4 years. Since February 18 Mr. Rostomyan has also acted as general secretary of Armenian National Olympic Committee.

According to Hrachya Rostomyan, since 2006 Basketball Federation fulfilled a lot of activities, 260 basketball teams in 450 schools have been formed involving some 4617 children. Armenian Basketball Federation has joined FIBA –Europe and FIBA- World since 2007.

Armenian Basketball Federation will organize Army Tournament and Junior Basketball Championships in 2010.

“This summer Yerevan will host European Basketball Championships – division C will be held in Yerevan and we should make it successful,” he said. “We'll also try to settle the problems of Yerevan sport halls.”

Armenian Basketball Federation projects to involve 2 international arbiters and an inspector by 2012.

Tennis: Argentinean Armenian tennis player David Nalbandian did not take part in the quarterfinal of Copa Telmex-2010 having $ 475.300 prize fund.

On February 18, Nalbandian had to meet with Spain’s Albert Montanes. Unfortunately, due to injury before the quarterfinal of Copa Telmex-2010 David Nalbandian withdrew from the tournament.

Nalbandian dropped 19 points in February 22 ATP ranking, moving down to 159th position with 325 points to his score.

Armenia’s Tigran Martirosyan is ranked 460th with 70 points.

Roget Federer (Switzerland) tops ATP rankings, followed by Novak Djokovic (Serbia) and Rafael Nadal (Spain).