No visa for Armenian European Champion Ferdinand Karapetian for Baku

Klaus Müller / Watch: https://km-pics.de/

Armenia’s national team will not participate in the 2018 Judo World Championships in Baku due to lack of proper security guarantees. Armenia and Azerbaijan haven’t been friendly states over the last decennia. European Champion Ferdinand Karapetian is not able to attend these World Championships.

The 2018 European Champion took a silver medal at the Grand Slam in Ekaterinburg this year as well. He also competed for Russia where he won national medals as senior and U23. Won silver at the Golden League in Samara in 2014. This year he won bronze at the Grand Slam in Düsseldorf in 2018, but the world number 13 cannot compete in Azerbaijan.

“The host country has refused to provide proper security guarantees to the Armenian delegation,” the Armenian Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs said.

In the same weight category U73kg Armenia have Arsen Ghazaryan at WRL 67. In 2009 Armenia won its only World Championships medal, in Rotterdam (NED) by lightweight Hovhannes Davtyan.

Also Uruguayan Alain Aprahamian, who is an Armenian descent is worried about his participation as he still didn’t get a confirmation of his visa while the investment of travelling from Uruguay is significant.

The World Championships Seniors and Teams Baku 2018 will be held from September 20 to 27.