Armenian Hatis Progress to Playoffs After “sixth player” Victory Over Turkish Besiktas

Armenian women’s basketball club Hatis beat Turkish Besiktas 78-74 in Yerevan Thursday in the sixth and last round of European Cup Group F qualification. The victory secured second place for the Yerevan team (with nine points) and a berth in the playoffs. Besiktas also have nine points, but because of the scored/conceded points difference and two defeats from Hatis (both at home and away) the Istanbul team are third. Sony Athinaikos (Athens, Greece) held on to the top spot in the group.

The Thursday game again took place in a full Mika Gymnasium. Hatis took an early lead and held on to survive a late surge by Besiktas.  Read more... (401 words)

Security At High Level Before Turkey-Armenia Soccer Match

Almost all preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying second-leg match between Turkey and Armenia scheduled for Oct. 14 are in their final phase, Today’s Zaman reports.

The necessary security measures have been taken to prevent incidents that could possibly erupt during the match. Unfurling anything other than national flags or banners won’t be allowed in the stadium. Any incidents of hooliganism will not be tolerated and offenders will be removed from the stadium. It is yet unknown if Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan will attend the match.

Speaking to the private Cihan news agency, Bursa Governor Şahabettin Harput said this match is important for the prestige of the city.  Read more... (368 words)

Referees of Turkey-Armenia Football Match Announced

Sweden referee team chaired by Martin Hanson will hold Turkey-Armenia football match of electoral round for the World Cup 2010. The referee in chief has three other assistants – Henrich Andren, Stephan Vitberg and Martin Ingvarson.

It’s worth reminding that Armenia-Turkey match will take place in Bursa, Turkey, on 14 October. The match will be conducted in “Ataturk” stadium at 23.00 by local time.

It is also reported that Alexandru Deaconu will hold Armenia-Turkey youth meeting, Armenian Football Federation reports.

Source: Panorama - Original Article

Soccer: Focus on Ataturk stadium security ahead of Turkey-Armenia fixture

Incidents at a soccer game played over the weekend in a northwestern Turkish city have raised questions over the security of an upcoming international game planned in the same venue where the visitors will be Armenians.

On October 14, the Ataturk Stadium in Bursa, some 90 kilometers to the south of Istanbul, will host the FIFA World Cup 2010 Group 5 qualifier between the national soccer teams of Turkey and Armenia.

According to Turkish media reports, serious brawls at the stadium during the Saturday domestic league game between the local club, Bursaspor, and visitors from a mostly Kurdish-populated region, raised questions about whether the city has been the right choice for hosting the match against Armenia.  Read more... (496 words)

Gabriel Sargsyan can’t fallow the leader

In Antverpen city, Belgium continues the InventiChess-2009 international chess competition. In the 8th round the Armenian grand master Gabriel Sargsyan ended with draw the game with Bart Michels. The same results were recorded in the games of Anna Muzychuk and Bartosh Sochko, and Etienne Bacrot and Emil Sutovsky. In the other two games there was recorded a good result. Krishnan Sasikiran won Antoaneta Stefanova with blacks. And Yan Timman got an advantage over David Howell.

So there is a rather stressing situation in the tournament list. Emil Sutovsky is leading the tournament list with 6 points. He is followed by Etienne Bacrot with 5.5 points, and Krishnan Sasikiran has 5 points.  Read more... (735 words)

US skater to present Armenia at international arena

On September 23-26, Oberstdorf, Germany will host Nebelhorn Trophy tournament, serving as the final Olympic qualifier to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Skaters will compete in the disciplines of men’s singles, ladies singles, pair skating, and ice dancing.

This time, Armenia will be presented by US single skater of Armenian heritage Pierre Balian. Ladies’ single skating will be presented by Ani Vardanyan. Gegham Vardanyan will act as a reserve skater.

Last year, Balian expressed a wish to present Armenia at LA World Championship, yet the issue of his Armenian citizenship prevented him from doing so.  Read more... (190 words)

Judo Diplomacy?: Armenian organizers raise flag, play anthem for Azeri judokas in Yerevan

Azerbaijan’s flag was raised five times and national anthem played once in the Armenian capital Yerevan over the weekend. This was part of a pledge made by the host party ahead of the European junior judo championships in Yerevan (September 11-13) that for the first time drew five participants from neighboring Azerbaijan, a country with which Armenia has been in a state of undeclared war since the 1991-1994 conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Armenian authorities reported no major incident during the championships and said all necessary security had been provided to the 15 members of the Azerbaijani delegation that also included coaches, doctors and medical personnel.  Read more... (512 words)

Artem Baghdasaryan won Champion’s title in European Youth Judo Championship

European Youth Judo Championship which has brought together sportsmen from 40 national teams (under age 20) continues in Karen Demirchian Sports/Concert Complex. In the first single combats of female tournament, Ani Avagyan (57 kg.) and Ani Ilichyan (63 kg.) were defeated by Lyudmila Marchenko (Ukraine) and Vesna Beylich respectively. In his start match against Johannis Standfis, male sportsman Hayk Hambardzumyan (81 kg.) also suffered defeat.

The only brilliant boxer representing Armenia was Artem Baghdasaryan who won European Champion’s title. On his way towards Olympic glory, Armenian judo athlete held victory over German, Latvian, Portuguese and Italian sportsmen. During the final match, he gained the upper hand over a Greek athlete.  Read more... (164 words)

President Serzh Sargsyan Hosted Official Opening Ceremony of Judo Championship

The official opening ceremony of Europe Judo Youth Championship will be held today in sport-concert complex after Karen Demirchyan. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan is going to be present at the opening ceremony, press service of judo federation reports.

According to the source the president of Armenian Olympic Committee Gagik Tsarukyan will address his speech, as well as minister of sport and youth affairs Armen Grigoryan, president of Euroe Judo Union Sergey Salavevich, president of Armenian judo federation Aleksan Avetisyan.

Source:  Panorama – Original Article