Armenia finished 5th with 13 medals at European Weightlifting Championships

PanARMENIAN.Net - Araik Mirzoyan (77kg), Elen Grigoryan (53kg) and Hripsime Khurshudyan (+75kg) won silver. Gevorg Poghosyan (under 94kg) and Smbat Margaryan (56kg) won bronze.

Chief coach of women’s team Artashes Nersisyan was pleased with the results. “Although the team was not presented in full composition, 2 Armenian female weightlifters gained 6 medals, with Elen Grigoryan and Hripsime Khurshudyan winning vice-champions’ titles,” he said. Nersisyan expressed hope that the remaining members of the team will be rehabilitated during practice sessions to join the team at the Paris-hosted World Championship due in November.

Araik Mirzoyan regrets he could not win gold due to the jury mistake. Mirzoyan, similarly to Turkish sportsman Semih Yagci, lifted 347 kg in clean and jerk discipline, yielding only in personal weight factor. However, Yagci performed the third attempt at jerk lift with his kneed bent, which is a mistake the referees failed to notice. “I’d sincerely congratulate the winner, had it been a fair victory. However, I feel I was unfairly deprived of a gold medal. After the competition the Turkish side brought apologies, as well as the arbiters, who, however, noted that the verdict is final,” Mirzoyan told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

Gevorg Poghosyan who for the first time performed in 94 kg weight class, was displeased. “I’m unhappy with the results I’ve shown, as I believed myself to be in fine physical shape. I aimed to win gold at the championship, yet my own self-assurance spoiled my chances. I’ll try to fix my mistakes in future,” the weightlifter said.

Boxing: The winners of Gagik Tsarukyan’s Cup international boxing tournament were announced on April 16. In 60 kg weight class finals Vladimir Sarukanyan gained a 20:16 victory over Gani Zhailaunov of Kazakhstan. In a 69 kg weight class combat, Serik Sapiyev of Kazakhstan beat Samvel Matevosyan (13:4). The games Artur Khacatryan vs. Alexander Galzulya (75 kg); Azat Davtyan vs. Vasili Levit (under 91 kg)of Kazakhstan ended in 18:14 victory and 6:0 defeat for Armenian boxers. In heavy weight finals another Kazakh boxer, Ivan Dichko knocked out an Armenian sportsman, having completed the game ahead of time.