During a press conference Pashik Alaverdyan, head coach of the Armenia weightlifting team, summed up the World Weightlifting Championship held in Thailand from September 17 to 27.
“People don’t get prepared for a world championship in a moment. It’s a long work and I thank for it the athletes’ personal coaches, and all those who supported the athletes and led them to such a high level. The final preparations were made by the Weightlifting Federation, head coach and second coach. I congratulate us all, as well as weightlifting fans. We will always try to live up your expectations.
Regardless the kilograms Lasha Talakhadze lifts, Gor Minasyan improves his result. He is an athlete who enters the arena and does his job without thinking of anything: it’s a very good quality. He is a wonderful athlete.
As for Andranik Karapetyan I’d say I’m disappointed as much as you. In July he was lying with bilateral pneumonia and thanks to Gagik Tsarukyan’s funding (1 million AMD) we were able to recover him. During the trainings he set two world records. He is disappointed too. Let’s see when this “wound” will be healed.
Hakob Mkrtchyan’s weight class is not Olympic. There are 8 months left to the Olympics. It’s impossible to change a weight class during this period and participate in the Olympic Games. He won’t be able to show good results.
The kilograms lifted by Simon Martirosyan at this World Championship aren’t enough for becoming an Olympic champion. His abilities are greater. If he snatches 200 kg and pushes 240 kg he will win. Simon is an athlete who will be able to lift as many kilos as needed,” Pashik Alaverdyan said.
Let us recall at the World Weightlifting Championship in Thailand the Armenia team had ended its performance with four medals (two gold, one silver and one bronze) and had taken the second position.
Hakob Mkrtchyan (89 kg) and Simon Martirosyan (109 kg) had been crowned world champions, Gor Minasyan (+109 kg) had won a silver medal and Ruben Aleksanyan (+109 kg) - a bronze medal.