33 athletes will represent Armenia in the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil

YEREVAN (PanArmenian.net)—For the first time in the history of independent Armenia, 33 athletes will represent the country in eight Olympic sports at the Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the National Olympic Committee said.

Six Armenians have achieved qualifying standards in athletic events, including Levon Aghasyan, Gor Nerkararyan, Gayane Chiloyan, Lilit Harutyunyan, Diana Khubeseryan and Amaliya Sharoyan.

Five boxers – Artur Hovhannisyan, Narek Abgaryan, Aram Avagyan, Hovhannes Bachkov and Vladimir Margaryan – will represent the country at the Olympics.

Armenia has secured berths for three artistic gymnasts – Harutyun Merdinyan, Artur Davtyan and Houry Gebeshian.

The country has received a Universality invitation from the International Swimming Federation (FINA) to send two swimmers (one male and one female) to the Olympics. Vahan Mkhitaryan and Monika Vasilyan will thus compete in the Games.

Seven Armenian weightlifters have qualified for the Rio Olympics – Andranik Karapetyan, Arakel Mirzoyan, Simon Martirosyan, Ruben Aleksanyan, Gor Minasyan, Nazik Avdalyan and Sona Pogosyan, as well as Vanik Avetisyan as a reserve.

Armenia has qualified a total of eight wrestlers into the Olympic competition: Garnik Mnatsakanyan, David Safaryan, Georgy Ketoyev, Levan Berianidze, Migran Arutyunyan, Arsen Julfalakyan, Maksim Manukyan and Artur Aleksanyan.

Also representing Armenia are shooter Hrachik Babayan and judoka Hovhannes Davtyan.