YEREVAN, AUGUST 19, NOYAN TAPAN. Thousands of fans met Armenian Olympians, who returned to Armenia from Beijing, at Yerevan's Zvartnots Airport on August 19. Among them were Greco-Roman wrestlers Roman Amoyan (55 kg) and heavyweight Yuri Patrikeyev, weightlifters Tigran Gevorg Martirosian (69 kg), Gevorg Davtian (77 kg) and Tigran Vardan Martirosian (85 kg), each of whom took a 3rd place and won a bronze medal at the 29th Beijing Olympic Games. The President of the National Olympic Committee of Armenia Gagik Tsarukian handed laurel wreaths to the prize-winners and their coaches and delivered a speech of praise. The RA deputy minister of sport and youth issues Khachik Asrian also welcomed the Olympians. Expressing gratitude to the government, heads of sport organizations and coaches on behalf of the sportsmen, weightlifter Tigran V. Martirosian promised that they will do their best to strengthen the prestige of Armenian sports by their new victories.

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