Elida Kocharyan and Sona Harutyunyan Secure Bronze Medals at European M22 Boxing Championship

Members of the Armenian women's boxing team, Elida Kocharyan and Sona Harutyunyan, have secured at least bronze medals at the M22 European Championship taking place in Budva, Montenegro.

In the women's 60 kg weight category, Elida Kocharyan fought against Italy's Ferante Donatella in the quarter-finals and won by a score of 5:0, advancing to the semi-finals and ensuring at least a bronze medal. Similarly, Sona Harutyunyan triumphed in the quarter-finals of the 63 kg weight category with a 5:0 win over Belarusian Valeria Strizhak, advancing to the semi-finals as well.

In the men's category, victories were recorded by Ruslan Aslikyan (57 kg), Erik Israelian (60 kg), Arthur Shakhbazyan (63.5 kg), Ararat Harutyunyan (67 kg), Narek Zakaryan (71 kg), and Henrik Tghrikyan (91 kg) in their initial matches.

The reigning M22 European champion, Ruslan Aslikyan (57 kg), faced Romanian Marian Salii and won decisively with a score of 5:0, having knocked out his opponent. Youth World and European champion Erik Israelian (60 kg) also triumphed convincingly over Hungarian Robert Shiki, even managing to knock him out at the end of the third round. Arthur Shakhbazyan (63.5 kg) started strong with a 5:0 victory over Arsen Chabyan from Austria.

In the 67 kg category, Ararat Harutyunyan demonstrated resilience, coming from behind to defeat Irish athlete Gareth Gifford. After losing the first round 0:5, he turned the match around in the second and third rounds, scoring a knockout in the third round. Another Armenian representative, Narek Zakaryan (71 kg), won his initial bout by unanimous decision against Germany's Michel Siemens.

In the heavyweight category (91 kg), Henrik Tghrikyan secured a confident victory by knockout over Georgians Jumka Jaiani and advanced to the next round.

It should be noted that under the leadership of Karen Aghamalyan, the Armenian team is also represented by Rudolf Garboyan (51 kg), Ruben Garboyan (54 kg), Raphael Hovhannisyan (86 kg), and heavyweight Hovhannes Papazyan. Today, November 16, eight Armenian representatives will enter the ring. With victories, they will secure at least bronze medals.