Armenia`s MOD cannot explain reasons for Armenian  ahtletes`non-participation in Army world championship 

ArmInfo.The Armenian Defense Ministry did not give a clear explanation for the question of why the strongest Armenian wrestlers were excluded from the national  team at the Army World Championship, which will be held in Yerevan on  November 18-24.

The day before, another scandal broke out in the Armenian segment of  social networks. It turned out that the strongest Armenian athletes  liable for military service were excluded from the team that will  take part in the championship. Moreover, the strongest athletes -  European champions - compete in other national teams.

In this regard, on November 19, during a press conference in Yerevan  dedicated to the 37th World Wrestling Championship among military  personnel, the Chief of the Physical Culture and Sports Service of  the General Staff of Armenia, Colonel Arman Davtyan spoke about the  upcoming competitions.

He said that the official opening ceremony of the championship is  scheduled for November 20 at 17:00.  The competition will be held  until the 23rd inclusive. "About 400 representatives from more than  two dozen countries arrived in Armenia to participate in the 37th  World Championship," he informed.

In turn, the President of the International Military Sports Council  (CISM), Colonel Rolim Filho Nilton Gomes (Brazil), said that the  purpose of these sports games is to once again demonstrate that  sports can stimulate peace. "All conditions have been created for  holding fair competitions at the proper level. For me, this  Championship in Armenia is a kind of symbol of both the beginning and  the end. Here, as the President of CISM, I will open these games in  Armenia, and in 2027, when the Assembly of the competitions will be  held here, I will complete my mission as the President of this  council," he added. 

When asked by journalists why the strongest wrestlers were excluded  from the Armenian team and who made the decision, Davtyan said that  Armenia, as the host country, strictly adhered to the charter of the  International Military Sports Council and carried out the selection  in such a way as to avoid all kinds of speculation in the future.  Without explaining what kind of speculation he was talking about, the  representative of the Ministry of Defense added that conscripts with  quite serious training were included in the Armenian team.

Only under serious pressure from the journalist Davtyan admitted that  the Wrestling Federation of Armenia did not participate in the  selection of participants of the Armenian national team, and this was  done exclusively by people sitting in the Ministry of Defense of  Armenia. Then he began to talk about some strict selection criteria  on the part of CISM, but still could not give an answer as to how it  happened that strong athletes - European champions participate in  other teams, and all strong Armenian athletes are simply excluded  from the team, although in the past they repeatedly participated in  these competitions and demonstrated excellent results. He only  assured that if they do not participate this time, this does not mean  that they will not be able to participate in the next world  championships. 

In response to journalists' comments that it seemed that this was  done with the aim of not allowing Armenian athletes to compete with  dignity with the Turkish team, which includes quite titled wrestlers,  and to allow them to raise the Turkish flag in Yerevan, the Defense  Ministry representative merely stated that they formed the  composition of the Armenian team without looking at the composition  of other teams.

In turn, Rolim Filho Nilton Gomes assured that athletes are selected  not only by sports, but also by the athlete's characteristics. He  added that a number of countries have their own selection criteria,  but CISM sets itself the task of revealing the potential of still  unknown athletes, opening the way to the podium for them. "The lists  have already been formed, nothing can be changed, so instead of  talking about the problem that has arisen, let's go to this  championship and support our athletes," he urged.

To the journalist's remark that it is ridiculous to hope that an  athlete who does not have a proper career path will be able to  adequately compete with a titled athlete, no matter how much the fans  support him, Nilton only shrugged. It should be noted that on  November 18, freestyle wrestler, four-time European champion,  three-time bronze medalist of the world championships Arsen  Harutyunyan made a statement on his Facebook page in which he said  that the leading Armenian wrestlers, those athletes who had a great  chance of becoming champions, were simply excluded from the  tournament.

"We have been working tirelessly for the past few months to prepare  for the World Army Championship in our country. Our team has worked  hard to get into great shape. We are strictly following a diet,  overcoming physical and psychological difficulties in order to keep  the honor of our country at a high level. However, a few days ago we  were informed that we cannot participate in the championship with our  strongest team. It is even more unfortunate that our best wrestlers,  athletes who had great chances to become champions, were simply  kicked out of the tournament. We were not given clear reasons why we  were faced with such a decision.

This situation is extremely difficult for us, both psychologically  and physically. The work we have done and the sacrifices we have made  remain in vain. Dear journalists, we cannot answer your questions  because we ourselves do not know the reason. To get a clear answer,  contact a representative of the Ministry of Defense and ask him your  questions. We do not have clear information about the reasons,"  Harutyunyan wrote.

Another Armenian athlete, freestyle wrestler, 2023 European Champion,  World Cup winner, Armenian Champion, member of the Armenian National  Wrestling Team, winner of the European Championship among athletes  under 23, champion of the 2018 European Youth Championship, as well  as bronze medalist of the World Youth Championship Vazgen Tevanyan,  made an almost similar statement: "Dear compatriots and media  representatives! We are speaking not only as Armenians, but also as  warriors and athletes for whom sport is not only a competition, but  also a way to present the reputation of our country in the  international arena. The Army World Championship will be held in  Yerevan on November 20-24. 

Unfortunately, our team will not take part in this event with its  strongest line-up. The reasons for such a decision are also unclear  to us, since no clear interpretation and explanation has been given.  Such situations negatively affect not only our team, but also the  reputation of the army, sports and our country as a whole.  Moreover,  they call into question our readiness to support and to strengthen  faith in the Motherland in all dimensions. At this time, we cannot  answer additional questions, as we do not have additional  information."