Armenia Has a European Champion and Runner-Up in Weightlifting: Three Representatives Today

Today, on the sixth day of the European Championship, Armenia will have three representatives. Competing are European champion Samvel Gasparyan (102 kg at 16:00), runner-up Arsen Martirosyan (109 kg at 19:00), and 87 kg weight category Hripsime Khurshedyan (22:00), who returns to the competition platform after a six-year break.

Let us remind that in the ongoing European Weightlifting Championship in the capital of Albania, Tirana, the championship bout in the 96 kg category was between two Armenian weightlifters, David Hovhannisyan and Ara Aghanyan. David won with a total of 377 kg. As a result, David Hovhannisyan became the European champion, while Ara Aghanyan took the runner-up position.

In the 96 kg category, Armenia was represented by two weightlifters: David Hovhannisyan and Ara Aghanyan. Notably, both in the snatch and clean and jerk exercises, the highest preliminary entry was submitted by David Hovhannisyan. Ara Aghanyan was the first among the Armenian athletes to take to the platform, successfully lifting 160 kg above his head. In his second attempt, Aghanyan secured 165 kg, and when David Hovhannisyan lifted 167 kg, it became clear that our athletes were medallists in this exercise. For his third attempt, Aghanyan called for 170 kg and once again executed the lift superbly. The only competitor left for gold was David Hovhannisyan, who lifted 171 kg above his head, claiming the gold medal, while Ara Aghanyan earned the silver medal.

In the clean and jerk exercise, Aghanyan made a strong statement in the fight for a medal. Our athlete lifted a barbell weighing 200 kg. David Hovhannisyan attempted 202 kg for his first lift but was unable to hold it overhead. However, in his next attempt, David secured 203 kg. The championship fight continued between the two Armenian weightlifters. David finished the exercise with a result of 206 kg, while Aghanyan attempted 208 kg for his third lift but could not lift it. With a combined total of 377 kg, David Hovhannisyan became the European champion, while Ara Aghanyan took the runner-up position with a total of 375 kg.

To date, the only European champion within the Armenian national team is Rafik Harutyunyan in the 81 kg category. The Armenian weightlifter claimed the European Championship title with a total of 354 kg. Furthermore, Andranik Karapetyan won a small silver medal in the snatch exercise in the 89 kg category.

Armenia is participating in the European Weightlifting Championship with 13 weightlifters, three of whom are women. Isabella Yalyan finished fifth in the total lift in the 55 kg category, while Tatev Hakobyan (76 kg) earned a small bronze medal in the snatch exercise but received a zero in the clean and jerk.

In the final two days of the European Championship, on June 4, Armenian weightlifter Samvel Gasparyan will compete in the 102 kg category, followed by Arsen Martirosyan in the 109 kg category later that same day. In the women's 87 kg category, Hripsime Khurshedyan will enter the competition after a six-year hiatus. On June 5, two weightlifters from Gyumri, Gor Minasyan and Varazdat Lalayan, will take to the platform in the super heavyweight category.