Armenian World Champion Janes Nazaryan Says Boos in Baku Could Not Overshadow His Moment of Victory

The boos echoing through the arena in Baku did not distract Armenian wrestling champion Janes Nazaryan. By the time he began his victory lap with Armenia's flag draped over his shoulders, the 17-year-old said he was focused on only one thing: celebrating a dream he had worked years to achieve.

Nazaryan, a two-time U17 world champion, won gold in the 71-kilogram division at the U17 World Wrestling Championships on July 29, defeating Aslan Juyev, who competed under the Russian flag, 4-3 in a hard-fought final.

After securing the title, Nazaryan and his coaches carried the Armenian tricolor around the mat. Loud boos rang out from sections of the crowd. The reaction continued during the medal ceremony as Armenia's national anthem played and the country's flag was raised in Azerbaijan's capital.

"I wasn't paying attention to the boos anymore," Nazaryan said. "They weren't important. What mattered was enjoying that moment. I was carrying the Armenian flag, and I wanted to live every second of it. You don't get moments like that very often."

Although the tournament took place in Azerbaijan, a country whose relations with Armenia remain deeply strained after years of conflict, Nazaryan said the venue itself was not what weighed on him before the competition.

"There was pressure, but it wasn't because we were competing in an enemy country," he said. "The pressure came from the responsibility of performing well. We had prepared for this with my coaches, and I wanted to justify all the work we had put in."

Nazaryan described the championship match as the most difficult of the tournament. His plan unraveled early, and after surrendering points, he admitted he briefly lost his composure. He said his coaches helped him regain control and stay committed to the strategy they had developed.

"The final didn't go the way I expected," he said. "I made mistakes, and my opponent was very strong. My coaches stayed calm and kept reminding me what I needed to do. They helped me stay focused instead of letting the match slip away."

He said he drew confidence from remembering the long road that had brought him to the final.

"I reminded myself how much work it had taken just to reach that stage," Nazaryan said. "I knew I had to finish what I started."

The teenager also credited his coaching staff for the achievement, saying the world title was the product of a shared effort rather than an individual accomplishment.

"This victory is the result of my coaches' work," he said. "They guided me every step of the way and showed me what I needed to do to reach this level."

Nazaryan acknowledged that entering the tournament as a reigning world champion made the challenge even greater.

"Everyone wanted to beat me this year," he said. "It wasn't easy, but I was ready."

He recalled that when Armenia's team first learned the world championships would be held in Baku, winning a title there seemed possible but distant. Standing atop the podium, however, that goal became reality.

"When I carried the Armenian flag, I felt proud and emotional," Nazaryan said. "I had achieved what I came here to do."

Nazaryan's victory became one of the defining moments of the championships for Armenia, with the country's flag raised and anthem played in Baku despite the hostile reaction from parts of the crowd.

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