On February 15, 2026, the Armenian Championship in men's and women's weightlifting concluded in Yerevan. The tournament was a representative one — almost all of the country's strongest athletes took part, and for the first time the competition was streamed live on YouTube, an important step in popularising the sport.
Super-heavyweight battle. The headline event of the men's competition — the +110 kg class — ended as expected with a win for the reigning World Champion Varazdat Lalayan (440 kg). Silver went to Simon Martirosyan (405 kg), who had competed in the 110 kg class last season. He is likely to return to 110 kg for the 2026 European Championships, where his main rival will be Garik Karapetyan.
110 kg. Karapetyan dominated with 380 kg. Garnik Cholakyan (60 kg) and Gor Sahakyan (71 kg) — both 2025 World Championship participants — confirmed their domestic leadership.
88 kg. A close fight: Suren Grigoryan lost out to the more experienced Rafik Harutyunyan (350 kg), who moved up from 81 kg and managed to consolidate himself in the new class.
94 kg. New hopes for Armenia — Ara Aghanyan (370 kg) and Martin Poghosyan (79 kg, 337 kg) posted decent totals. Two-time European Champion Davit Hovhannisyan (361 kg) can also compete in this class.
Women's competition went without major surprises — leaders confirmed their positions. The main news was the announcement by 23-year-old Mary Tumasyan, who took silver in +86 kg and announced her retirement from professional sport. Tatev Akopyan took the title.
The Armenian Championship was held for the first time in the new weight categories that have been in effect since June 2025.
Men's results.
60 kg: Garnik Cholakyan (Gyumri) — 272 kg, Seyran Khudanyan (Bagramyan) — 248, Volodya Sargsyan (BKMA) — 218.
65 kg: Zhora Grigoryan (Ararat) — 254, Artush Grigoryan (Gyumri) — 253, Armen Hunanyan (Vedi) — 239.
71 kg: Gor Sahakyan (Vedi) — 330, Narek Grigoryan (Vedi) — 290, Samvel Martirosyan (Etchmiadzin) — 279.
79 kg: Martin Poghosyan (Ararat) — 337, Tigran Karapetyan (Vedi) — 321, Hovhannes Hovhannisyan (BKMA) — 309.
88 kg: Rafik Harutyunyan (Gyumri) — 350, Suren Grigoryan (Vedi) — 340, Seryozha Barseghyan (Etchmiadzin) — 292.
94 kg: Ara Aghanyan (Gyumri) — 370, Davit Hovhannisyan (Bagramyan) — 361, Mnatsakan Abrahamyan (Ararat) — 340.
110 kg: Garik Karapetyan (Gyumri) — 380, Grigor Ghazaryan (Gyumri) — 333, Narek Antonyan (Yerevan) — 317.
+110 kg: Varazdat Lalayan (Gyumri) — 440, Simon Martirosyan (Jrarat) — 405, Ashot Movsisyan (Etchmiadzin) — 377.
Women's results.
48 kg: Kristine Babayan (Ararat), Zepyur Ghazaryan (Etchmiadzin), Mane Avanesyan (Kasakh).
53 kg: Izabella Yaylyan (Yerevan), Tanzela Grigoryan (Gyumri), Araksia Sirakanyan (Gyumri).
58 kg: Aleksandra Grigoryan (Gyumri), Milena Avanesyan (Etchmiadzin), Liana Stepanyan (Yerevan).
63 kg: Natalya Sargsyan (Gyumri), Hughaber Amroyan (Gyumri), Milena Gevorgyan (Vanadzor).
69 kg: Meri Misakyan (Kasakh), Oksana Torosyan (Gyumri), Sofya Najaryan (Gyumri).
77 kg: Anna Amroyan (Gyumri), Alina Sukiasyan (Sevan), Yulya Shirinyan (Yerevan).
86 kg: Emma Poghosyan (Gyumri), Meri Aghalaryan (Jrarat).
+86 kg: Tatev Akopyan (Yerevan), Mary Tumasyan (Gyumri), Nare Arakelyan (Ararat).
The 2026 European Championships will take place in Batumi, Georgia from April 19-26, and the 2026 World Championships in Ningbo, China from October 27 to November 8.