Armenia’s shooting team wins historic five gold medals at World Championships

Armenia’s Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, Zhanna Andreasyan, has received members of the national shooting team after their historic performance at the World Moving Target Shooting Championships held in Estonia from July 20 to 26.

According to the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, the Armenian team won a total of nine medals—five gold, one silver and three bronze—and produced the country’s first-ever world champions in the discipline.

The meeting was also attended by Narine Shahbazyan, Head of the Ministry’s Sports Policy Department, and Areg Saribekyan, Secretary General of the Shooting Federation of Armenia.

Congratulating the athletes, Andreasyan described their achievement as a landmark in Armenia’s sporting history, noting that the team’s international success reflects the steady and qualitative development of shooting in the country.

“I believe your success marks another important milestone in Armenia’s sporting history. What you have achieved has already become part of history, and I am very pleased that we have reached such a result,” Andreasyan said, thanking the athletes, coaches and the Shooting Federation of Armenia for their consistent efforts.

The minister also highlighted the extensive joint work carried out to organise this year’s European Shooting Championships, saying the event had been successfully staged despite numerous organisational challenges and had received positive feedback from international partners. She added that investments made in shooting infrastructure for the championships were already yielding tangible results.

Speaking about the government’s sports policy, Andreasyan said that under a recent government decision, the state will finance training for children attending private shooting ranges. She also noted that discussions are underway on the possibility of incorporating shooting into the school physical education curriculum, citing the sport’s role in developing concentration and other important skills.

Andreasyan further referred to major international sporting events scheduled to be hosted by Armenia next year, stressing that the country continues to strengthen its position as a venue for international competitions. In this context, she said the possibility of hosting another international shooting tournament in Armenia would be considered.

Shooting Federation of Armenia Secretary General Areg Saribekyan said state support had become increasingly tangible in recent years, while investments made ahead of the European Championships had significantly contributed to the national team’s preparation and its results at the World Championships.

National team member Lilit Poghosyan also thanked the ministry for the reception, saying the team had sought to achieve the best possible results at the World Championships following the European Championships in Yerevan to demonstrate that the state’s efforts had not been in vain.

Armenia competed in the World Championships in Estonia with a 12-member squad.

In the senior competition, Hayk Minasyan and Gor Khachatryan claimed individual world titles. In the team event, Minasyan, Khachatryan and Hovhannes Margaryan won gold in the 50-metre running target normal run event.

Among the juniors, Aida Azatyan delivered an outstanding performance, becoming a two-time junior world champion.

Armenia also secured team medals in other events. The men’s team of Minasyan, Khachatryan and Margaryan won silver in the mixed run event.

Hayk Minasyan earned an individual bronze medal, while the same trio added two further bronze medals in the team competitions of the 50-metre mixed run and normal run events.