The European Youth Boxing Championship started with the ceremony at the Yerevan Mika sports complex. The event was attended by RA Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan, Deputy Minister Karen Giloyan, President of the Armenian Boxing Federation Hovhannes Hovsepyan, President of the European Boxing Confederation Yohanis Filipatos, other representatives of the federation, guests.
More than 250 representatives from 30 European countries are participating in the championship started in Yerevan. Before the start of the official ceremony, the athletes of the participating countries held a parade with flags. After that, the athletes’ oath ceremony was born, in which Arthur Mkrtchyan, winner of multiple awards from the Armenian national team, took part.
The Minister of Sport and Sports welcomed the attendees and emphasized that hosting major international sports events has already become a tradition in our country, “I warmly greet you all. It has already become a good tradition to hold major international tournaments. I am thrilled that we are hosting the Youth Boxing Championship one day after the closing of the European Weightlifting Championship. We all have fresh memories of the senior European championship held in Yerevan last year. I am sure we will witness no less great performances and victories these days.”
Zhanna Andreasyan emphasized that the development of sports is one of the priorities of the RA government, and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle and the popularization of sports are the most critical issues. “We are happy that with such tournaments, we can promote sports for athletes and the wider public. I am sure that every athlete present here will inspire the new generation to play sports by their example and victories, and that is the most important thing. I also wish all countries’ delegations present very pleasant days in Yerevan. I am sure that you will return to Armenia again and enjoy the Armenian hospitality”, noted the minister of MESCS and wished success to all the tournament participants, expressing hope that their victories on the youth platforms will lead to more significant achievements.
The President of the Armenian Boxing Federation, Hovhannes Hovsepyan, stated that Yerevan had become the European capital of boxing again. “It is a great honor to host such a major European tournament for the second time. We did everything to make the European Youth Championship as good as last year’s adult European Championship. I am sure this championship will remain in your memories and impress all of you.”
It should be noted that the Armenian youth team led by Vazgen Badalyan will participate in the European Youth Championship with the following composition: Hovhannes Harutyunyan (48 kg), Davit Safaryan (51 kilograms), Erik Arustamyan (54 kg), Gor Azizyan (57 kg), Oskan Voskanyan (60 kilograms), Arthur Mkrtchyan (63.5 kg), Yura Bablumyan (67 kg), Arman Miskaryan (71 kilograms), Armen Poghosyan (75 kg), Aghvan Aleksanyan (80), Davit Simonyan (86), Ishkhan Hovsepyan (92 kg) and Albert Harutyunyan (92+ kg). The competitions of the Youth EA will be held at the Mika sports complex and will last until May 2. Entry is free.
