Finalists determined in five weight categories at the 2026 Stepan Sargsyan Cup
- Author: Vahe Hakobyan
- Sportaran
The finalists in five weight categories have been confirmed at the international freestyle wrestling tournament, the Stepan Sargsyan Cup, which is being held in Yerevan.
In the 57 kg weight category, Armenia will be represented in the final by Manvel Khndzrtsyan. In the decisive bout, the Armenian wrestler will face Belarus Aryan Tsiutryn.
The final pairings for the first competition block are:
57 kg: Aryan Tsiutryn (Belarus) — Manvel Khndzrtsyan (Armenia)
65 kg: Ossimzhan Dastanbek (Kazakhstan) — Abasgadzhi Magomedov (Russia)
74 kg: Imam Ganishov (Russia) — Amine Cameron (USA)
86 kg: Askhab Khajiev (Kazakhstan) — Zahid Valencia (USA)
97 kg: Vladislav Kozlov (Belarus) — Konstantine Petriashvili (Georgia)
This year’s edition of the Stepan Sargsyan Cup features 181 athletes from 15 countries. Armenia’s national team is represented by nearly all of the country’s leading wrestlers. In addition to Manvel Khndzrtsyan, Vazgen Tevanyan, Arman Andreasyan, Khachatur Khachatryan and other members of the national team are taking part in the competition.
A number of renowned international wrestlers have also arrived in Yerevan. Among them are world champion Zahid Valencia of the United States, world and European champion Abasgadzhi Magomedov of Russia, and European champion Ibragim Ibragimov.
The Armenian government allocated more than 25 million drams to the Wrestling Federation of Armenia for the organization and staging of the tournament.
The organizers have also provided prize money. The winner of each weight category will receive $2,000, the silver medalist will earn $1,000, while the bronze medalist will receive $500.
The tournament’s official opening ceremony and the first part of the final bouts will take place on September 12, starting at 17:00 Yerevan time. The second part of the finals will be held on September 13 from 13:00.