ARMENIA SEEKING U.S. ARMENIANS FOR NATIONAL WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM

Eurasia Review
a-seeking-us-armenians-for.html
April 21 2010

Three American college basketball players of Armenian descent will
be trying out for Armenia’s national women’s basketball team starting
May 20.

The invitees include Arpine Amirkhanyan from Armstrong Atlantic State
University; Kris Kachaturoff from Eastern Michigan University; and
Christine Kepenekian from California State University, Bakersfield.

The three candidates were selected by Carl Bardakian on behalf of
the Basketball Federation of Armenia. Mr. Bardakian is a former men’s
assistant basketball coach at Cleveland State University.

Ms. Amirkhanyan’s and Ms. Kepenekian’s families had previously moved
from Armenia to Los Angeles; Ms. Kachaturoff’s family is from Dearborn,
Michigan.

"My relatives in Yerevan are so excited!" said Ms. Amirkhanyan. "This
is a great opportunity and I feel honored."

"I have always been very proud to be Armenian and I can’t wait to go,
as this is my first trip to Armenia," said Ms. Khachaturoff, who is
now reportedly also brushing up on her Armenian language skills.

Reacting to the invitation, Ms. Kepenekian told her college newspaper
that she is "really excited to get the chance to play competitive
basketball again," said Kepenekian. "I’ve been to Armenia twice before
to visit my mom’s side of the family. This is a great experience
that will hopefully help me gain exposure to try and play on other
professional teams after the tournament."

"Christine was a great player for us and helped make our team better,"
said CSUB Head Coach Tim La Kose. "Any team she plays on will be
better with her on it because she works hard and competes."

"We are preparing for Arpine, Christine and Kristine’s arrival in
Yerevan in May," said Hrachya Rostomyan, president of the Basketball
Federation of Armenia, noting that Armenia will for the first time
ever host an FIBA women’s basketball tournament.

>From June 28 to July 3 Armenia will host the European Women’s
Basketball Championship Division C, which in addition to the home team
will include Andorra, Gibraltar, Malta, Moldova, Scotland and Wales.

"Armenia’s participation in this tournament will [contribute to]
our long-term strategic goal of developing basketball throughout
Armenia," said Souren Zohrabyan, chairman of the federation’s
organizing committee.

Additional candidates for Armenia team are being scouted in Russia,
Iran, Syria and Lebanon.

Women’s basketball gained in prominence in Armenia last year as
Yerevan-based HATIS club for the first time qualified for Eurocup
playoffs after upsetting a more prominent team from Turkey.

This summer’s championship games will be held at the Mika Stadium
in Yerevan, which holds 1,160 seats and has also been the site for
HATIS games.