Sports: Armenia’s Greco-Roman wrestlers in European C’ship: Repeating the success of 2008

MediaMax, Armenia
Feb 20 2020
Armenia’s Greco-Roman wrestlers in European C’ship: Repeating the success of 2008

Gevorg Gharibyan and Artur Aleksanyan won European titles, while Karen Aslanyan and Karapet Chalyan took home bronze medals. The coaches of the national team have summed up the championship today.

Eduard Sahakyan

We got four medals, but missed out in other weight categories. I think Karen and Karapet could reach the finals. Competition was tough, I am generally satisfied with the results. We have qualification events ahead of us, so we will start preparing for them.

Gevorg Aleksanyan

The results are good in general, although we got no medals in some weight categories.

Gevorg Gharibyan has proven he is a top-class wrestler. He had some difficult matches but met all our expectations. Karen Aslanyan won his second European bronze. I think it was the referee’s mistake that Karen did not reach the final. The three referees from that match were dismissed, but it is no consolation to us.

Karapety Chalyan’s road to the semi-final was hard. He fought well until the 4th match. He got the bronze, but he has a lot of room for growth. Artur Aleksanyan has proven again that he is fully recovered. We will try to get him more matches until the Olympics. He gave no chances to his opponents. They could see they were losing and attacked Artur early on, I’m glad he didn’t lose his temper. He has issues with his teeth now, because all three opponents hit him, so he’s getting treatment.

Samvel Gevorgyan

I am happy Armenia has a new champion. Gharibyan won the title in the junior category and this time he got one in the senior tournament. Last time we won so many medals 12 years ago, in 2008, I’m glad to see this achievement.


Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS