Armenian Wrestler Arsen Harutyunyan Wins Silver After a Tough Final at European Championship

Armenia's top wrestler, Arsen Harutyunyan, once again made his country proud by winning a silver medal at the European Freestyle Wrestling Championships held in Bratislava, Slovakia. The 25-year-old athlete from Masis fought with heart and determination, going all the way to the finals in the 61 kg weight class.

In the final match, Arsen faced one of the world’s strongest wrestlers—Zaur Uguev, the Olympic champion from Tokyo, a two-time world champion, and European silver medalist. It was a tough, close fight, with both athletes giving it their all. The final score was 7 to 5 in favor of Uguev, making Harutyunyan the European vice-champion. Still, this silver medal is a powerful achievement for both Arsen and Armenia.

Arsen Harutyunyan had a strong path leading up to the finals. In his first match, he dominated Bulgarian wrestler Stilyan Iliev with a clean 11:0 win. He then moved on to face Leomid Kolesnik from Moldova in the quarterfinals, finishing the match with an overwhelming 12:2 score. The fight lasted just a little over two minutes—showing Arsen's power and skill on the mat.

In the semifinals, he met Zelimkhan Abakarov, a world champion and two-time European vice-champion originally from Russia, who now represents Albania. That match was no less intense, but Arsen held strong and won 5:2 after a fierce and focused fight.

Arsen Harutyunyan is no stranger to success. Born on November 22, 1999, in Masis, Armenia, he has been a rising star in the world of freestyle wrestling. He first won European gold in 2019 and represented Armenia at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Over the years, he has collected multiple European Championship titles and bronze medals at the World Championships.

His performance in Bratislava proves once again that Arsen is one of the best wrestlers in Europe—and a fighter who never gives up. Even though he didn’t win the gold this time, his silver medal is a huge honor and shows the strength and skill of Armenian athletes on the international stage.