Badminton is a one of the 13 sports in the program of the the Pan Armenian Games – a multi-sport event hosting competitors from the Armenian diaspora and Armenia.
This year, Armenia hosted 7100 participants from 135 cities and 70 countries overall. The uniqueness of the Pan Armenian Games is that it is open to Armenian passport-holders and citizens of other countries who have Armenian descent. In addition, spouses of those of Armenian descent are also eligible to compete.
Badminton has been a part of the program of the Pan Armenian Games since 2003. Thus, it was the 6th time badminton has been a part of the Games held every four years. This year, the event took place on August 5 – 10 in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.
In the Badminton tournament, there were 116 participants from 18 cities of 10 countries participating in 4 disciplines – Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles and Women’s Doubles.
Within the Bulgarian delegation “The Father of the Bulgarian Badminton” Professor Doctor Puzant Kassabian was also present at the Pan Armenian Games. Kassabian, having an Armenian origin, is the former President of the Bulgarian Badminton Federation and the honorary President of the Badminton Federation of Armenia.
He has been present in all the Pan Armenian Games and winning gold medals since 2003 – the year when Badminton has been accepted as part of the program of the Pan Armenian Games.
Before commencing the badminton event, an official ceremony celebrating the 30-year friendship and cooperation of the Badminton Federation of Armenia and the Bulgarian Badminton Federation was held in the badminton sports venue. People from both countries (8 Bulgarians and 22 Armenians) were rewarded with special gifts due to their overall contribution and commitment for the last 30 years of the successful cooperation.
Due to his overall contribution and support throughout the years, Professor Doctor Pyuzant Kassabian received a special gift from Hovhannes Khachatryan, the President of the Badminton Federation of Armenia.
Here are the results of the tournament:
Men’s Singles
1. Sarkis Akobyan (Sofia, Bulgaria)
2. Zaven Mnatsakanyan (Yerevan, Armenia)
3. Luka Ninoshvili (Tbilisi, Georgia)
Women’s Singles
1. Elen Tiraturyan (Yerevan, Armenia)
2. Maria Khachaturyan (Tbilisi, Georgia)
3. Svetlana Boyajyan (Yerevan, Armenia)
Men’s Doubles
1. Sarkis Akobyan (Sofia, Bulgaria) /Erik Krbashyan (Yerevan, Armenia)
2. Arsen Khachatryan/Hayk Misakyan (Yerevan, Armenia)
3. Manvel Harutyunyan/Gor Grigoryan (Yerevan, Armenia)
Women’s Doubles
1. Maria Khachaturyan (Tbilisi, Georgia) /Hermine Dzavaryan (Yerevan, Armenia)
2. Elen Tiraturyan/Svetlana Boyajyan (Yerevan, Armenia)
3. Marina Ovasapyan/Elizabet Zumbulidze (Tbilisi, Georgia)