Two Gold Medals for Armenia in Tuva: Mkhitaryan and Ter-Matevosyan Win International Tournament

Armenian wrestlers Yurik Mkhitaryan and Erik Ter-Matevosyan won gold medals at the Russian Defence Minister’s Cup international wrestling tournament, held in Kyzyl from October 1 to 5.

The tournament brought together 121 athletes from 14 countries — Armenia, Russia, Iran, Belarus, North Korea, Mongolia, Algeria, Brazil, Jordan, Lebanon, Niger, Syria, Tunisia and Sri Lanka. Competitions were held in Olympic weight categories in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling.

Armenia won two gold medals, both in Greco-Roman wrestling.

Yurik Mkhitaryan wins gold

18-year-old Yurik Mkhitaryan won the competition in the 67 kg weight category.

The Armenian wrestler finished first ahead of Algeria’s Faissal Benfredj. Russia’s Maksim Novichikhin and Belarusian Igor Yermachenkov claimed the bronze medals.

Mkhitaryan is regarded as one of Armenia’s promising young wrestlers. He had previously won silver and bronze medals at the U20 World Championships, and has now added gold at a senior international tournament to his achievements.

Erik Ter-Matevosyan also takes gold

Armenia’s second gold medal was won by 20-year-old Erik Ter-Matevosyan, who competed in the 97 kg category.

The Armenian wrestler also finished first and became the champion in his weight division.

Ter-Matevosyan had previously won two bronze medals at the U20 World Championships, while his victory in Kyzyl became another major international success for the young athlete.

Armenia therefore completed the tournament in Tuva with two gold medals.

Russian Defence Minister’s Cup Results

Freestyle Wrestling

57 kg

1. Chu Song Pak (North Korea)

2. Batmend Zorigoo (Mongolia)

3. Ayandai Ondar (Russia), Mahdi Keramatizadeh (Iran)

65 kg

1. Hyon Song Han (North Korea)

2. Said Anvari Zijud (Iran)

3. Egor Rudavsky (Belarus), Oussama Laribi (Algeria)

74 kg

1. Abderrahmane Benaissa (Algeria)

2. Igor Upkhoev (Russia)

3. Aleksandr Kambaev (Belarus), Il Gwon Ri (North Korea)

86 kg

1. Artur Naifonov (Russia)

2. Son Gan Chi (North Korea)

3. Alibala Ramazanov (Russia), Mukhamad Akhmedov (Belarus)

97 kg

1. Bady-Maadır Samdan (Russia)

2. Yaroslav Yadkovsky (Belarus)

3. Ibrahim Mazhar Al-Khatib (Lebanon), Reza Ebrahim Nejad (Iran)

125 kg

1. Alan Khugaev (Russia)

2. Timur Kotaev (Russia)

3. Silva Gabriel De Souza (Brazil), Ali Reza Gorzebar (Iran)

Greco-Roman Wrestling

60 kg

1. Hyok Song (North Korea)

2. Suner Konunov (Russia)

3. Viktor Vedernikov (Russia), Sergey Gorbunov (Russia)

67 kg

1. Yurik Mkhitaryan (Armenia)

2. Faissal Benfredj (Algeria)

3. Maksim Novichikhin (Russia), Igor Yermachenkov (Belarus)

77 kg

1. Sabhan Dalvand (Iran)

2. Andrei Samets (Belarus)

3. Junior Joilson De Brito Ramos (Brazil), Il Chhon Kim (North Korea)

87 kg

1. Bashir Azara Sid (Algeria)

2. Khamid Isaev (Russia)

3. Gleb Chepelev (Russia), Haithem Issaad (Algeria)

97 kg

1. Erik Ter-Matevosyan (Armenia)

2. Gleb Nalivka (Belarus)

3. Ruslan Guseinov (Russia), Amine Bendjelloul (Algeria)

130 kg

1. Vitaly Shchur (Russia)

2. Mahdi Kalantari (Iran)

3. Hemza Khaloui (Algeria), Dmitry Zarubsky (Belarus)

Team Standings

1. Russia

2. Iran

3. Belarus

Russian wrestlers won the overall team standings, collecting a total of 15 medals.