TWO ARMENIAN JUDOKAS IN BEIJING 2008
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29 July, 2008
The Judo International Federation has declared the list of its
participants in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Armenia will be
represented by 2 sportsmen – Hovhannes Davtyan (60kg) and Armen
Nazaryan (66kg).
32 judokas are to struggle for medals in the 60kg category. The
favourite of this category is considered Ruben Houkes (Netherlands),
who won gold medals in the World Judo Championship 2007. For the
past years Ruben Houkes has won a number of medals in international
championships. For the 29-year-old judoka these might be the last
Olympic Games. Another aspirant to the first standing is Nestor
Khergiani (Georgia), who won silver medals in the Olympic Games of
2004 and World Judo Championship 2007.
Four years ago Armen Nazaryan (66kg) participated in the Olympic
Games of 2004 under 60kg bodyweight category. But since according
to the Beijing 2008 Olympic rules a country can be represented with
only one judoka from each category Armen Nazaryan had to change his
weight category. He is considered a favourite, as he is included in
the list of 5 best judokas in the world.
In the World Judo Championship 2007 Armen got the fifth standing
under 66kg bodyweight category.
By the way there are 4 medals raffled in Judo – 1 gold, 1 silver and
2 bronze.