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Leading Armenian athletes Simon Martirosyan and Gor Minasyan, who have claimed gold and silver, respectively, at the 2018 World Weightlifting Championships held in Ashgabad, Turkmenistan, have returned to Armenia to receive a hero’s welcome at Yerevan Zvartnots Airport. 

The Armenian weightlifting stars were greeted not only by their relatives, but also dozens of cheering fans at the airport, with traditional folk instruments dhol and zurna. President of the Armenian National Olympic Committee, businessman Gagik Tsarukyan and Acting Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Gabriel Ghazaryan had also arrived in the airport to welcome the weightlifters.

Simon Martirosyan, a European champion and Olympic silver medallist, was crowned world champion after lifting a combined total of 435kg, while Gor Minasyan, an Olympic silver medal winner, grabbed the silver with the result of 450kg in the World Weightlifting Championships.

Speaking to reporters, Martirosyan credited his victory to hard work and the advice of his coaches.  

“I was well prepared this time and succeeded,” he said. “This kind of welcome is a new motive for repeating and doubling my results. I am eyeing gold at 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. We hope that we will return from Tokyo with gold,” the champion said, dedicating his victory to the Armenian nation.

World vice-champion Gor Minasyan, for his part, said he is excited to see his teammate win the champion’s title and set 3-4 world records, which is a rare thing.

He also unveiled plans to gain more weight to increase the weight he lifts, meantime adding he has improved his performance in clean and jerk event, which is very important for him.