For the second straight year, 21 year-old Artour Aleksanyan from Gyumri has won the European Greco-Roman Wrestling Championship in the 96 kilo division.

Aleksanyan’s most recent win took place in Tbilisi when he beat his opponent from Bulgaria.

Gyumri residents turned out to welcome back their hometown champ. The crowd of well-wishers included Shirak Regional Governor Felix Tsolakyan and Gyumri Mayor Samvel Balasanyan.

Artour says he is now training for the World Championship to take place this September in Hungary. The young athlete confesses that he has set his sights on winning.

Mayor Balasanyan told reporters that everyone has high hopes that Artour will return a world champion.

Balsanyan also revealed plans to build a sports complex in Gyumri and that serious investments will be made to realize the goal.

The mayor also promised to allocate a plot of land to the Aleksanyan family to set up a business.

Gevorg Aleksanyan, Artour’s father and personal trainer, thanked everyone for their warm welcome, including the Armenian community of Tbilisi for their support.