Malkhas Amoyan: I want to dedicate this achievement of mine to Armenian and Yazidi nations

By Lusine Shahbazyan

At this moment I earned the medal I was ready for. Armenia's world champion and three-time European champion, Greco-Roman wrestler Malkhas Amoyan, told NEWS.am Sport this from Paris.
Amoyan on Wednesday won a bronze medal in the Men's Greco-Roman Wrestling 77kg category at the 33rd Summer Olympic Games being held in Paris.

"I am glad that I became a medal winner of the Olympic Games. Yes, I really came with the intention, in a mood of winning a gold medal, but at this moment I earned the medal I was ready for. Somewhere there were probably shortcomings in the training. I will try to draw conclusions and prepare for the Los Angeles Olympic Games," Amoyan said.

"Actually, it was not very different from the European and world championships. In my opinion, the Olympic games are easier than the world championship; you just have to be more psychologically prepared here," Amoyan stated.

"Nothing has changed in my feelings, it's a normal situation, I just added one more medal to my medal collection in my sports career. Only that has changed," Amoyan said.

"My uncle [2008 Beijing Olympics’ bronze medalist Roman Amoyan] is not here with me. I spoke with him on the phone. He congratulated, but the bronze medal was not what he would have liked also. Next will be the Olympic gold medal," Amoyan stated.

"I want to dedicate this achievement of mine to the Armenian and Yazidi nations. I thank everyone for supporting us and being by our side," Amoyan added.

"After [Armenia’s] Artur Aleksanyan's [wrestling] match, the awarding of our weight category took place. After his match, there was no longer a mood. We all believed that Artur should win and be declared a two-time Olympic champion, but it didn't work out; the referees didn't give the points correctly. Arthur should have been given one point to get the

Iranian wrestler out of the mat, but they didn't, and he was deprived of the gold medal. Now they have appealed, we are waiting, let's see what will happen," Malkhas Amoyan concluded.

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