The coaching staff of the Armenia Greco-Roman wrestling team summed up the World Championship in Nur-Sultan at the meeting with journalists.
Acting head coach Eduard Sahakyan said he was both pleased and displeased with the wrestlers’ performances.
“The World Championship was difficult because it was qualifying for the Olympic Games. All the teams had prepared well and tried to win as many qualifications as possible. We are both pleased and displeased with the guys’ performances. We are pleased we won two qualifications. We could have performed better in several weight classes but for some reasons we failed. There weren’t weak rivals in the World Championship. We can express our dissatisfaction with the refereeing because in the final of the 63 kg weight class we could have seen our wrestler. Also in the 55 and 67 kg weight classes the referees threw obstacles in our way. In the rest bouts the refereeing was normal. Karapet Chalyan had a high temperature before and during the competition. We can’t say yet who will take part in the Olympic Games, Chalyan or Arsen Julfalakyan. There is still much time. We assure we’ll choose the strongest,” the coach said.
One of the coaches of the team Samvel Gevorgyan complained about the refereeing and draw of the World Championship.
“It was the strongest World Championship in the last 3-4 years. The strongest wrestlers took part in it because the qualifications were important for every country. I’d say the draw was very bad as though it was made for some countries. For instance, Artur Aleksanyan spent five bouts and they all were against his main rivals. The same can be said about the 60 and 67 kg weight classes. The refereeing was very bad. The referees felt tense too because on the basis of this championship Olympic Games referees had to be chosen. We didn’t understand why at 67 kg the referees gave a point to Karen Aslanyan’s rival 30 seconds before the end of the match. Then Mikhail Mamiashvili approached and said he didn’t understand the decision, either and if the referees didn’t explain him they would be punished. The referee was punished but we lost one qualification. If Artur Aleksanyan allowed a slight mistake they would impede him too. But this time Artur was in such shape he was able to spend five more matches and not to get tired if there were no injuries. The doctors anesthetized him but the pain was still there. The injury could damage his lungs and we decided not to take the risk. It was very hard for Artur to give the medal but we didn’t let him to endanger his health. Today he will be examined, after which we will decide what treatment he will receive. Doctors said he should keep that part immobilized for several months,” Samvel Gevorgyan said.
Let us recall the Armenia team had ended its performances at the World Championship with 2 medals. Slavik Galstyan had won a world bronze medal and Artur Aleksanyan (97 kg) - a silver one. Aleksanyan had missed the final match because of a rib fracture.
Photo by armenpress.am