Four Artsakh Refugee Athletes to Compete at 2026 IMMAF Championships
Artsakh athletes to represent Armenia at IMMAF Youth World Championships
Four young athletes from families displaced from Artsakh will represent Armenia at the 2026 IMMAF Youth World Championships in Abu Dhabi in August. Karen Arzumanyan, Tigran Gasparyan, Samvel Avetisyan, and Erik Hayrapetyan qualified through top results in their respective weight divisions. The Lorik Humanitarian Fund raised $3,600 to fully fund their participation, covering accommodations, fees, and related costs. All four athletes train under Stepan Shahmuradyan at Shahmuradyan Fight Club and continue rebuilding their lives in Armenia following the September 2023 forced displacement. The humanitarian fund is now raising approximately $1,900 for training equipment at the gym, which also serves children of fallen servicemen and those affected by the 2023 Artsakh fuel depot explosion.
