On July 17, international youth sambo tournament kicked off in Yerevan.

The tournament is dedicated to Double Hero of the USSR, pilot Nelson Stepanyan, as well as the 65th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, President of the National Olympic Committee Gagik Tsarukyan, Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Arthur Petrosyan, Counsellor of the Russian Embassy in Armenia, Head of Rossotrudnichestvo representation in Armenia Victor Krivopuskov and other high-ranking officials participated in the opening ceremony of the tournament.

President of the Armenian Sambo Federation Levon Hayrapetyan greeted the guests and wished success to participants.

For his part, Gagik Tsarukyan noted that the Armenian National Olympic Committee has always supported sports development.

The tournament brought together 143 sportsmen from Armenia, Nagorno Karabakh, Russia and Georgia. The tournament will last until July 19.