2015 sporting year in one breath
The past year was full of ups and downs in sports, justified and unjustified expectations. In pre-Olympic year Armenia’s athletes distinguished themselves at both youth and adult championships. We want to present you our athletes’ achievements of the past 12 months and the remarkable events of sporting life.
On March 10 the National Olympic Committee of Armenia on the session of the Executive Committee took decision to participate in the first European Games which would be held in Baku, Azerbaijan.
One of the promising athletes of Armenia’s shooting team, Lilith Mkrtchyan became a European champion.
Freestyle wrestler Grigor Grigoryan won silver and Valodya Frangulyan (61kg) captured gold at the U23 European Championship. Greco-Roman wrestler Karapet Chalyan became a bronze and Sargis Kocharyan a silver medalist.
At the World Sambo Cup in Moscow Ashot Danielyan became a Cup winner.
In April, Armenia hosted the World Team Chess Championship where Armenia’s men’s team became a bronze medalist.
At the World Cup in Qatar our gymnasts conquered 3 medals. Harutyun Davtyan was first at pommel horse, Artur Davtyan came third and Artur Tovmasyan grabbed silver at rings.
Arman Yeremyan took a silver medal at the European Taekwondo Championship.
At the European Youth Judo Cup the Armenian representative, Vahagn Hovsepyan became a bronze medalist.
At the European Weightlifting Championship in Tbilisi Armenia’s representative Tigran Martirosyan (77kg) was crowned a European champion for the third time. Andranik Karapetyan took bronze at that championship while Smbat Margaryan (56kg) became a silver medalist of the European Championship. Hripsime Khurshudyan grabbed bronze at clean and jerk.
At the European Gymnastics Championship in Montpelier, France, Harutyun Merdinyan scoring 15,333 points at pommel horse took second position binging silver.
Armenian samboists won 5 medals at the European Championship. Tigran Kirakosyan was the best in the 52kg weight class and was crowned a European champion. Maksim Manukyan (57kg) and Mavrik Nasibyan (74kg) came third and Ernest Hayrapetyan came second.
Armenia’s representative Andranik Karapetyan became a world champion at the World Youth Weightlifting Championship in Wroclaw.
The first European Games were held in Baku on June 12-28, 2015. Armenia attended the Games with 25 athletes representing 6 sports; boxing, wrestling, sambo, judo, taekwondo, shooting.
Greco-Roman wrestler Mihran Harutyunyan became a silver medalist of the European Games.
At the European Youth Public Cycling Championship in Athens, Greece, Armenia’s Edgar Stepanyan became a European champion at scratch (40km group race).
At the University Games Armenian gymnast Artur Tovmasyan scoring 15,500 points at rings was crowned a champion.
In August the 6th Pan-Armenian Games were held.
At the World Youth Cycling Championship Armenia’s Edgar Stepanyan conquered silver at 25km (100 cycles) group cycling.
Armenia’s boxing team member Aram Avagyan (56kg) became a bronze medalist of the European Championship.
Armenian boxer Anush Grigoryan (51kg) got a champion title at the European Youth Championship.
In September Armenian chess leader Levon Aronyan stayed undefeated in one of the strongest tournaments which was held in the US city of Saint-Louis. Picking 6,5 points of 9 possible he won the tournament.
Greco-Roman wrestler Artur Aleksanyan became a world champion for the second time in a row.
President of Armenia's National Olympic Committee, Gagik Tsarukyan, President of the Association of National Olympic Committees, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, President of the European Olympic Committee, Patrick Hickey put into operation the “Olympavan”
The National Olympic Committee of Armenian celebrated its 25th anniversary. President of the Association of National Olympic Committees, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah and President of the European Olympic Committee, Patrick Hickey visited Armenia on this occasion.
On September 30 the legendary footballer Youri Djorkaeff visited Armenia.
November brought the long-awaited medal of gymnastics from the World Championships. Harutyun Merdinyan grabbed bronze at the World Championships.
Armenia’s chess team took the second place at the European Team Chess Championship.
Armenian weightlifters won 3 medals at the World Weightlifting Championship in Houston, USA also obtaining 5 Olympic qualifications for men and 2 for women.
On December the Sports Journalists Federation of Armenia recognized Artur Aleksanyan the best athlete of the year. Gyumri athlete deserves Armenia’s best athlete title for the second year in a row.
In 2015 a number of outstanding personalities of Armenian sport passed away. The legendary coach of the “Ararat-73”, Harutyun Qeheyan died at the age of 85. The Merited Master of Sports of the USSR, talented coach Vardan Militosyan passed away after a serious illness as well as the legendary captain of “Ararat-73”, Hovhannes Zanazanyan.
ANOC press office
