ARMENIANOW.COM SPORTS March 25, 2005
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SPORT DIGEST: SNOW IN YEREVAN DAMPENS FOOTBALL NATIONALS’ PREPARATION FOR ANDORRA
By Suren Musayelyan
ArmenianNow Reporter
FOOTBALL
NATIONAL TEAM: Armenia played a friendly match against Kuwait in Dubai
(United Arab Emirates) on March 18 losing 1-3.
The first half was goalless. Although after the opening 10 minutes
Armenian footballers dominated the field, they could not materialize
their goal scoring chances.
Kuwait scored the first goal in the 27th minute of the second period,
followed by their second at 32.
Armenia’s Hamlet Mkhitaryan scored the guests only goal (handball
penalty) in the 43rd minute of the second half, but it was followed
two minutes later by Kuwait’s capper.
March 26, at 6:00 pm local time, Armenia will play a World Cup 2006
qualifier against Andorra in Yerevan’s Vazgen Sargsyan Republican
Stadium. Then, on March 30, Armenia will play an away qualifier
against Holland.
Armenia head coach Bernard Casoni made public the names of 21
footballers invited for training before the two qualifiers. They
are: Edel Apula Edima Bete (Pyunik), Roman Berezovsky (Dynamo,
Moscow), Sargis Hovsepyan (Pyunik), Robert Arzumanyan (Pyunik),
Alexan Tadevosyan (Pyunik), Karen Dokhoyan (Krilya Sovetov, Samara),
Valeri Alexanyan (Pyunik), Yeghishe Melikyan (Metalurh, Ukraine),
Aghvan Lazarian (Pyunik); Hamlet Mkhitaryan (MPZO, Belarus), Romik
Khachatryan (Ofi, Greece), Karen Alexanyan (Zimbru, Moldova), Rafael
Nazaryan, David Grigoryan (Yesil Bogatir, Kazakhstan), Artavazd
Karamyan (Rapid Bucharesti, Romania), Romeo Jenebyan (Banants),
Armen Shahgelyan (AHD, Lebanon), Aram Voskanyan (Yesil Bogatir,
Kazakhstan), Arman Karamyan (Rapid Bucharesti, Romania), Ara Hakobyan
(Stal, Ukraine) and Galust Petrosyan (Zimbru, Moldova).
Winter-like weather has hampered the national team’s preparations
for Andorra.
“Because of the weather conditions we cannot train for the match
properly,” coach Bernard Casoni told A1+ on Wednesday. “I haven’t had
the opportunity yet to see the degree of each player’s preparedness.”
The coach said he expected only a win in the match against Andorra,
but added: “Andorra is not my concern. My concern is Armenia. Of
course, Andorra are not what they used to be and now they are a good
team that could earn 4 points in two matches against Macedonia.”
International bookmakers, too, highly evaluate Armenia’s chances to
win Andorra. Armenia’s victory has a coefficient of 1.3. Meanwhile,
Andorra’s victory is evaluated at 1 to 8 and a draw at 1 to 4.2.
ARMENIAN CUP: Second leg matches of the 1/8 finals of Armenian Cup 2005
were played on March 19 and 20. The following results were registered:
Kilikia v Arax – 1-1; Shirak v Gandzasar – 2-0; Banants v Abovyan
– 15-0; Pyunik-2 v Esteghlal-Kotayk – 1-2; Pyunik v Mika-2 – 3-1;
Yerevan United v Mika – 1:0; Dynamo-Zenit v Esteghlal-Kotayk-2 – 2-0;
Ararat v Banants-2 – 1-0.
Thus, the following clubs progress to the next stage: Kilikia, Shirak,
Banants, Esteghlal-Kotayk, Pyunik, Mika, Dynamo- Zenit, Ararat.
(source: the press service of the Football Federation of Armenia).
FENCING
World junior fencing championships began in the Austrian city of Linz
on March 23. More than 500 athletes from 45 countries are participating
in the competitions. According to Armenpress, Armenia is represented by
young epee fencers Hakob Saroyan, Edgar Avetisyan and Mikael Ghazaryan.
The Armenian team is coached by Alexan Navasardyan. The tournament
will last till March 30.
TENNIS
According to the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) latest
rankings published this week, Argentinian-Armenian David Nalbandian
is ranked No. 9, followed by American-Armenian Andre Agassi, No. 10.
RINGO ANYONE?: ENTHUSIAST POPULARIZES NEW SPORT IN ARMENIA
By Suren Musayelyan ArmenianNow Reporter
As spring ends the winter hibernation, many Armenians find that they
have put on a few kilograms and need the gym.
But is there a simpler way to keep fit?
Petros Marukyan says Ringo might be the answer.
The 42-year-old engineer from Karakert, Armavir marz, has been
promoting this sport in Armenia since 1989 when he first learned
about the game while on a business trip to the Baltic States.
Ringo, which was invented by Polish fencer Wlodzimierz Strzyzewski
in 1959 to help him train for fencing competitions, later grew into
a separate sport with its own following.
The game of ringo is played with a hollow rubber ring with an external
diameter of 17 centimeters and a weight of 160- 165 grams on a 9×18
m court.
It combines elements of volleyball and tennis and can be played by one,
two or three players from each side.
Marukyan , who founded the Ringo Federation in Armenia in 1998,
says that ringo is a perfect sport to keep fit for all with minimum
equipment that one can put together from whatever is at hand.
“People playing ringo develop quick movement, good reaction,
coordination, abrupt motions,” he says. “Besides, ringo is a very
exciting and enthusing game. Once you try it, you’ll understand that
it is good for your health and your spirit.”
Besides, according to Marukyan, people of all ages alike can start
playing ringo from scratch, without any special training. “All you need
is a rubber ring and a line. Children start playing ringo with great
enthusiasm and as they play they grow fond of this sport,” he says.
According to Marukyan, there are a few hundred people regularly
playing ringo in Armenia. This sport has been involved in the official
calendars of sporting events in Armenia since 1999. Local competitions
begin in April-May and last till late autumn.
Ringo in Armenia is more popular in regions than in the capital. It is
played in Baghramyan, Armavir, Talin, Ashtarak, Spitak and other areas.
According to the Federation president, they also participated in a
series of international competitions in Poland and the Czech Republic
where they were supported by the local Armenian communities.
Today, ringo is played in 17 countries and Marukyan is the
Vice-President of the Association of the Ringo Federations in CIS
countries.
He says that when ringo was first entering Armenia it was supported
by sponsors and other people who saw the advantages of this game,
but during the last few years this support has been withdrawn.
“I always say: there is no bad sport, there is a bad approach to
sport,” he says. “Many children who started playing ringo seven
years ago feel frustrated because we have no funds to ensure their
participation in high-level competitions. That’s why some of our
ringo players stopped playing.”
Meanwhile, Marukyan, who designed equipment for the game of ringo that
could be put in one bag and wrote a book about this game in Armenian,
says he is determined to continue to popularize this sport in Armenia.
“I believe that many Armenians will appreciate this sport as they
learn more about it, and with good sponsors we can develop this sport
in Armenia very quickly,” he says.
Fifteen-year-old Melik, who has played ringo for seven years now,
says that he was fascinated by this sport as soon as he first threw
the rubber ring.
Since then Melik has participated in a number of competitions and
made certain achievements in this sport.
“This is a very interesting sport that makes you physically and
psychologically stronger,” he says. “Every time I play ringo I play
with great enthusiasm.”
Marukyan says they will hold the first ringo competition in Armenia
this year in early April.
All those who wish to join in may contact Petros Marukyan directly on
(374) 3375146 or visit the website:
for more information.