April 15, 2011 - 11:17 AMT
Judges of European Championships deprive Armenian weightlifter of gold medal

Armenian weightlifter Araik Mirzoyan won silver in 77kg weight category, lifting 347kg in snatch and clean & jerk combination at the European Weightlifting Championships in Kazan.

Mirzoyan lifted 160kg and was the first in snatch. He was the second in clean & jerk, lifting 187kg.

Turkish weightlifter Semih Yagci also lifted 347kg in snatch and clean & jerk combination, but won the champion’s title due to his personal weight.

However, Yagci committed an error in his third attempt that was disregarded by judges.

Armenia appealed against the decision and forced the judges to admit their mistake, but it has not anyhow changed the result. The judges stated that “there is not such a rule.”

Thus, Mirzoyan was deprived of the champion’s title due to the judges’ mistake.

Armenia’s Aghasi Aghasyan lifted 153kg in snatch, but failed all his three attempts in clean & jerk.

On April 15, Edgar Gevorgyan will enter the competition in 85kg weight category.