By Gayaneh Sargsyan

Zhora Hovhannisyan, a nationally celebrated sports trainer from Vanadzor, was recently recognized as the international senior freestyle wrestling champ for the fourteenth time.

The competition was held in Armenia form October 10-18 and Hovhannisyan bested his Japanese opponent by a score of 6 to 1.

Hovhannisyan says he began to wrestle at the age of 12. “I and a bunch of friends were playing football. The older guys said I had to wrestle someone. I did and I won. They advised me to take up the sport,” says Hovhannisyan, adding that his mother was against it.

“I lost my father when I was two. My mother fretted over me as the only son. My teachers were also opposed, wanting me to focus on my studies. I didn’t listen to any of them,” says the veteran wrestler.

Hovhannisyan won his first major match at the age of 15, being christened a Soviet champion. He would rack up more serious victories later in life, as a senior wrestler.

The Armenian athlete says his most challenging, but satisfying match, was against an Iranian in 2001.

“The Iranians are strong wrestlers and love the sport. My opponent was their world champion. They were all amazed when I beat him. Even my opponent hoisted me on his shoulders and paraded me around the ring three times, to widespread applause,” says Hovhannisyan.

He started to train other athletes in 1983. It’s tough work, he says, since an individual approach is required for every child he trains.

“There are courageous kids who lack the technical skills and just the opposite, technically good kids who lack confidence,” Hovhannisyan notes. He gives them all the same advice – don’t give up and get disappointed over losses.

He says that he could achieve even greater results as a trainer if not for a number of hindrances, the first being that many of the athletes he trains are undernourished.

“While training kids, a child will say that he’s dizzy. When I ask what he’s eaten, he’ll say some macaroni or potatoes. If the boy isn’t eating properly, he won’t get far in the sport. Nevertheless, Hovhannisyan notes that the best athletes come from poor families.

He says the government and local municipalities must step in and raise the level of care for budding athletes.

“Certain assistance is provided to the winners. But we can’t only focus on champions. Second place winners might win first place next time. We have loads of talented children.”

 Hovhannisyan also points out the need to stop inviting athletes from abroad to represent Armenia, saying the policy restricts local wrestlers from advancing.

But the veteran trainer is confident that Armenians will wrestle under the Armenian flag.

“It’s not the same if an Armenian isn’t battling it out under our flag. It’s not the same if a non-Armenia lifts the flag in victory. Sooner or later they will leave Armenia. We and our children must defend our soil.”