BAKU –Armenia claimed its first gold medal at the U17 Greco-Roman Wrestling World Championships, which are nearing completion in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Reigning U17 world and European champion Janes Nazaryan reaffirmed his status as one of the competition’s top wrestlers by once again reaching the highest step of the podium in the 71 kg weight category.
In the final, the Armenian wrestler faced Aslan Dzuev, representing Russia, and secured a hard-fought 4–3 comeback victory.
Immediately after winning the title, Nazaryan took a victory lap around the mat while carrying the Armenian national flag. Despite loud jeers from the stands, the Armenian athlete remained unfazed and proudly completed another lap with the flag.
Following Janes Nazaryan’s victory, the Armenian national anthem was played in Baku, Azerbaijan. Whistles and jeers could be heard from the stands during the anthem.
On his way to the final, Nazaryan defeated all four of his opponents by technical superiority, outscoring them by a combined total of 33–0, with victories of 8–0, 9–0, 8–0 and 8–0. The final was the only match in which an opponent managed to score points against him.
Earlier in the tournament, Armenia’s Ararat Avetisyan, competing in the 48 kg category, and Gevorg Harutyunyan, competing at 51 kg, won bronze medals.
In the bronze-medal bout, Ararat Avetisyan defeated Hungary’s Benedek Tombor 8–0. The Armenian wrestler beat his Mexican opponent 14–7 in the round of 16 and secured a 9–3 victory over a representative of Uzbekistan in the quarterfinals. However, Avetisyan lost to a Kazakh wrestler in the semifinals.
In his bronze-medal match, Gevorg Harutyunyan earned a convincing 5–0 victory over Georgia’s Saba Abashidze.
