Simon Martirosyan: There was reason for all this but we do not despair (PHOTOS)

By Lusine Shahbazyan

YEREVAN. – After returning to Armenia, Simon Martirosyan (109 kg)—silver medalist of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, two-time world and European champion—spoke to reporters at Zvartnots International Airport about his unsuccessful performance at the European Weightlifting Championships in Moscow, NEWS.am Sport reports.

"We could not do what we had left for. There is one reason: I had an injury that prevented me from getting in good shape. But we do not despair, we already know the reason, and we are moving to Tokyo [Olympics]. I will participate in the Olympic Games in 200% condition.

I had gotten injured during training, and in Karvachar I had a slightly hurt my leg; but there are no excuses. It just didn't work out, it wasn't that day. It will be good in the future," said the 24-year-old weightlifter.

To note, Martirosyan had no lift in the clean and jerk, whereas he lifted 190 kg in the snatch and won a gold medal in this movement at the at the European Weightlifting Championships in Moscow.

In the Russian capital, Armenia's Karen Avagyan (89 kg) and Samvel Gasparyan (102 kg) became European champions in the combined totals, Arsen Martirosyan (102 kg) and Gor Minasyan (+109 kg) became European silver medalists, while Andranik Karapetyan (89 kg), Hakob Mkrtchyan (96 kg), Liana Gyurjyan (81 kg) and Varazdat Lalayan (+109) won bronze medals. Isabella Yaylyan (55 kg), Rafik Harutyunyan (81 kg) and Arpine Dalalyan (+87 kg) took placed fourth, while Tatev Hakobyan (87 kg) took the ninth place.

As reported earlier, the European Weightlifting Championships are a qualifier for the Tokyo Olympics.