November 27, 2010 - 23:33 AMT
ARTICLE
Araik Mirzoyan European U23 champion
Review of November 18-25 sports events.
Weightlifting: Armenia’s Araik Mirzoyan won the U23 Weightlifting Championships in 77kg weight category, lifting 155 in the snatch and 186 in the clean & jerk (totaling 341kg). Aghasi Aghasyan won silver, lifting 336kg in the snatch and clean & jerk.

Elen Grigoryan (up to 53kg) won silver, fixing 174kg in the snatch and clean & jerk.

Rubik Mamoyan (62kg) won silver, lifting the total of 270kg in the snatch and clean & jerk.

Vanik Avetisyan (69kg) won bronze with total 300kg in the snatch and clean & jerk.

Boxing: Arthur Abraham has arrived in Helsinki to continue the preparation for the November 27 Super Six World Boxing Classic showdown with Carl Froch.

“The first couple of days here have been nice. I’m in a good mood, a comfortable mood. This is a bit cold for me since my coach has had me training in 110 degree temperatures. It is good for the body. I’m well prepared for Saturday night,’’ Froch said during the final press conference.

In response to a question about the size difference and Froch’s comments that he was much bigger, Arthur said: “Inside the ring all that matters is to be mentally stable. It doesn’t matter (about being) bigger or stronger, just clever. The clever fighter always wins.’’

“It’s great to be here in Finland. I go into every fight to win. If that means throwing bombs and breaking ribs then, yeah, I’ll do everything I can to win my belt back. I come into the fight with self belief and confidence. I plan to come into the ring and win this belt back. I don’t think it should have ever been taken away in the first place. I predict I’m going to win by any means necessary on Saturday night,” Froch responded.

Chess: Armenian grandmaster Zaven Andriasyan, 2010 Final Cup of Russia gold winner said the victory in the tournament in question was crucial to him. As he told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, “before the Final Cup of Russia I participated in Chigorin Memorial, which was a qualifier to the tournament. Fortunately, my performance was a success.”

“Despite a hard fist day, preceded by long and tiresome train travel from St. Petersburg to Belgorod, which gave me no chance to prepare beforehand, I lucked out: my rival Pavel Pankratov had the same issue, allowing us to begin the game on equal terms. I managed to show myself in best light and score a win,” the young grandmaster said.

Before the end of 2010, Andriassian will participate in European Blitz and Rapid Chess Championships in Poland and Netherlands-hosted international tournament.

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Armenia’s youth team will take part in the World Youth U16 Chess Olympiad due November 26-December 5, 2010, in Burdur, Turkey. The Armenian team will include Karen Grigoryan, Robert Aghasaryan, Hovhannes Gabuzyan, Davit Shahinyan and Tigran Petrosyan.

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Armenian grandmaster Levon Aronian, who has recently won the World Blitz Championship, is currently in the Czech Republic as an honorary guest of Snowdrops versus Old Hands tournament. Aronian’s girlfriend, international master Arianne Caoili of Australia is participating, along with Humpy Koneru of India, Viktorija Cmilyte of Lithuania and Tereza Olsarova of the Czech Republic.

Judo: Judo Grand Prix Abu Dhabi gave its participants a chance to qualify for the London Olympic Games. The prize fund of the tournament is $200,000. According to tournament results, World Championship bronze winner Hovhannes Davtyan (60kg) scored 2 victories in 3 combats, gaining the 3rd place. Armen Nazaryan (66kg) also won 2 out of 3 matches, coming 5th in the tournament.

Tennis: David Nalbandian has been awarded the Konex de Platino by the Fundacion Konex, honoring his achievements and role in Argentine sports in the last decade. The foundation's awards are given to Argentine athletes, as well as public figures from a variety of other fields.

The jury, presided over by Gabriela Sabatini, selected five Argentine athletes with outstanding achievements in the last decade from 20 different sports (ranging from tennis and football to rugby, polo and sports for the disabled) to receive a so-called "Diploma al Merito". For tennis, the five selected players were: David, Guillermo Coria, Gaston Gaudio, Juan Martin Del Potro and Paola Suarez.

Sambo: The Sambo Federation of Armenia rated the 2010 results as 'excellent', with 6 gold, 4 silver and 12 bronze medals won by our sambo wrestlers at international tournaments.

Ashot Danielyan was named Armenia's best sambo wrestler, followed by Vachik Vardanyan and Tigran Kirakosyan.

The best coaches are Ernest Mirzoyan, Salvel Avdalyan and Gurgen Sevoyan

The best referees are Eduard Aslanyan, Vovik Khojoyan and Vachagan Khachatryan.

Hasmik Babayan, Gohar Nalbandyan