Sport is essentially different for men and women in Armenia. Men are long-standing leaders by the number of achievements, salaries and contributions. Professional sport has much more problems in opening doors for women.
Ahead of Women’s Day, Mediamax Sport decided to present the situation in several sports and reasons that prevent their development.
Weightlifting
Our female weightlifters proved time and again that Armenian women are strong and can lift weights equally with men.
The number of girls interested in weightlifting began to grow in 1998-99 already. In a short period of time, we had European champions and medalists. In 2009, Nazik Avdalyan became World Champion, and Hripsime Khurshudyan became the first woman from independent Armenia to return from Olympic Games 2012 with a bronze medal.
Photo: Mediamax
“We have this deep conviction that weightlifting isn’t for girls. As for “girly” sports, I’ll only name rhythmic gymnastics,” confesses Armenian women’s weightlifting team head coach Artashes Nersisyan.
Nersisyan worked with men before heading the women’s team. He admits that female and male athletes differ a lot.
“It’s harder to work with women. Especially now, when 4 women in our team have children. They are mothers and can’t always manage to remain fully occupied with athletic duties,” stressed he.
Boxing
Women’s interest towards boxing has particularly risen since it was included in Olympic Games. We already have around 30 female athletes who can’t imagine a single day without training in the ring.
Women’s team head coach Harutyun Nazaryan noted that women are very persistent and purposeful, and seek to achieve more.
“They have great desire and aspiration. They train as much as men, without complaining. They are distinguished by willpower and accept victories very calmly,” said head coach.
Photo: Mediamax
However, you can’t have great expectation based on just the natural talents of the athletes. One of the problems is that the national way of thinking prevents boxing from becoming a mass sport.
The coach is sure that it will change with time. What matters is that the athletes have already seen the first results of their efforts - golden medals at European and World Championships, and international competitions.
Football
Nora Yeghyan and Maria Sakhinova are members of Armenian U19 team. The girls admit that they loved football and always played it in the street, then began training.
“Many people in Armenia don’t understand that women can play football. This causes difficulties for us,” notices Nora.
Maria adds that absence of international matches stands in the way of improving their skills.
Photo: Mediamax
We don’t have a national team or teams by age categories. There’s only an U19 team that trains and participates in championships.
The team’s head coach Liana Hayrapetyan says that the government should make contribution to sport development, as it’s impossible to move forward with only federations and private means.
“We have 13 teams provided with equipment and salaries for coaches only by Football Federation. Girls don’t get paid, they train out of devotion to the sport,” states Hayrapetyan.
Wrestling
Women’s wrestling history is short in our country. Nothing is done to increase the number of female athletes in Armenia, the country that is famous for its wrestlers. The first team was started by Gor Abgaryan in Artimet village of Armavir marz in 2014.
Photo: Mediamax
According to him, women’s sport has its peculiarities that he takes into account. However, girls train as hard as boys.
“Our athletes have great perspectives, and we expect them to win medals in near future. Our primary goal is to participate in Youth Olympic Games 2020 in Argentina,” says Abgaryan.
Gohar Nalbandyan, Hasmik Babayan
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