Date of birth: 02.12.1992, Gyumri
Sport: Boxing (63kg weight category)
Family: Married, with 2 sons
Education: Yerevan State Sports College of Olympic Reserve, Gyumri Pedagogical University
Coaches: Rudik Mkrtchyan, Karen Ghazaryan
Pre-match ritual: Prayer
Motto: “Have faith and you will win”
The most influential people in his career: Family and coaches
Photo: Mediamax
Start of career: “I was an energetic child, I would hit the walls and other things, and my grandfather decided I should try boxing. He took me to the Olympic Reserve College, where I started training. I was seven years old at that time. My uncle was a boxer, and he taught me how to deliver blows and move correctly. He also advised me to never give up and fight till the last second.”
Debut: “I won the Gagik Tsarukyan International Tournament in Yerevan in 2011.”
The impressive Olympics: “I saw our boxers for the first time in the Olympic ring at the 2008 Beijing Games. Hrachik Javakhyan won a medal then. From that day on, my dream was to participate in the Olympic Games. I set that goal and started working towards it. The Olympic Games bring together the strongest athletes, and the whole world enjoys their competition.”
Photo: Mediamax
Boxing: “You have to navigate and think in the ring very quickly. The goal is to land your blows within seconds, while not forgetting about the defense. I like my sport very much. My motivation has always been strong athletes such as Muhammad Ali, Roy Jones, Arthur Abraham and Vic Darchinyan. I am a very patient and aggressive boxer. In boxing, the body should not be psychologically stressed. The most important thing in our sport is time - you have to feel when to hit and how to do it, everything is calculated. Every second is crucial, so if lose your focus, you will lose.”
Rio Olympics: “A lot changed in my thinking after the games. I started boxing more aggressively, and my personality has evolved. I have new goals now.”
Becoming champion of Europe: “When the strength runs out, the character comes in. That is how I won the European Championship. I prepared myself mentally and I took a risk, because the fight was equal. When your tactics aren’t working and you’re out of ideas, you have nothing to lose, you give your all. It is in the ring where you usually find the way to defeat the opponent. The win in Minsk was my second title of the European champion.”
Photo: Mediamax
The way to succeed: “My journey has been very difficult both before and after the Olympics. The success of other athletes motivated me, and their efforts inspired me to succeed too.”
The Tokyo Games: “These will be my second games, and of course, I have changed a lot since 2016. I have new achievements. Now I am more focused and I do not give in to temptations. I understand what I need to do to be in good shape. Of course, I cannot talk about my expectations; I will do everything to perform well. I am working hard, and the ring will show what my work is worth.”
Photo: Mediamax
Armenia’s Olympic team: “Our team has quite strong athletes. I wish success and medals to all of them.”
Champion of Europe in 2017 and 2019
Winner of European Games in Minsk
Bronze medalist of 2017 and 2019 World Championships
Hasmik Babayan
Photos: Emin Aristakesyan
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