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Azeris Attempt To Foil World Boxing Championships In Yerevan

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  • Azeris Attempt To Foil World Boxing Championships In Yerevan

    AZERIS ATTEMPT TO FOIL WORLD BOXING CHAMPIONSHIPS IN YEREVAN

    December 6, 2012 - 17:45 AMT

    PanARMENIAN.Net - It's already a week Yerevan is hosting AIBA Youth
    World Boxing Championships, with over 700 athletes from 68 countries
    participating.

    Boxing Federation of Armenia boasts vast experience in organization
    of similar events, with Yerevan first hosting 2009 youth championships
    and international boxing tournaments since 2010.

    This year Azerbaijan was among the countries expressing readiness to
    participate in the event, with Armenia, in turn, pledging to ensure
    Azeri athletes' security. As a result, special Tbilisi-Baku charter
    flight operated for Azerbaijani boxers, who are currently staying
    at a separate hotel, with a group of security officers constantly
    guarding them.

    Naturally, Azerbaijani sportsmen were not expected to receive standing
    ovation in Yerevan, with Armenian fans supporting their rivals.

    It's noteworthy that Armenian boxers were stoned and showered with
    profanities when performing at Baku-hosted 2011 AIBA World Boxing
    Championships, which left them without support, forcing their friends
    out of the hall.

    Instead, Azerbaijani boxers are free to watch Yerevan championships
    from separate stands, support their compatriots and take photos,
    with high-level security constantly ensured.

    Even Azerbaijani Minister of Youth and Sports Azad Rahimov confessed
    a few days ago that their athletes' security was ensured at highest
    level.

    However, inclusion of Artsakh Republic in the official pamphlet of
    the championships came as upsetting to Baku delegation.

    In response, Vice-President of the Azerbaijan Boxing Federation
    Aghajan Abiyev stated, "We are looking forward for the Azerbaijani
    delegation to bring the pamphlet. We will further file the document to
    the International Boxing Association (AIBA). That's a political issue.

    I believe the association is authorized to ban Armenian from hosting
    further international championships."

    With the pamphlet reflecting the mere reality, AIBA grants its
    permit, depending on the country's ability to organize international
    championships. It's noteworthy that Yerevan lent a helping hand to
    the association offering to host the event, after Thailand issued
    a refusal.

    Yerevan championships are coming to an end, leaving only positive and
    unforgettable emotions. As for the Azerbaijanis... no doubt, they
    can't confess even at heart to have liked the championships. They
    agreed to participate in the event out of reluctance to be indebted
    to Yerevan due to Armenian athletes' participation in 2011 Baku-hosted
    championships.

    Hasmik Babayan, Gohar Nalbandyan / PanARMENIAN News

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