Elina Avanesyan’s Visit to Armenia
September 16, 2024
The young and promising Armenian tennis player, Elina Avanesyan, has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Armenian athlete to rank among the top 50 in the WTA women’s tennis global rankings.
In September, Elina Avanesyan visited Armenia. During her five-day stay in Yerevan, the tennis player participated in several events, filled with significant and unforgettable moments.
On September 16, a press conference was held at the “InCourt” tennis club. Thanks to the efforts of the Keron Development Foundation, the Armenian Tennis Federation, and the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport, Avanesyan, who now represents Armenia, spoke to the media about her roots, her decision to obtain Armenian citizenship and represent the country, as well as her plans to inspire the next generation of athletes and advance tennis development in Armenia.
“I am very happy to be here and eagerly look forward to all the events planned during this visit. I am grateful to the Keron foundation and the Armenian Tennis Federation for supporting my citizenship process and giving me the opportunity to compete under the Armenian flag. I feel a strong connection with Armenia and want to contribute to the development of Armenian tennis. The offer from the Keron Foundation was not just about support; it was an opportunity to turn my aspirations into reality and play a role in advancing Armenian sports. I know there aren’t many tennis players in Armenia, but I hope to motivate them, and that we’ll soon see more Armenian flags on the tennis courts. I believe this is a great opportunity for Armenia,” said Elina Avanesyan.
Gevorg Karamanukyan, Executive Director of the Armenian Tennis Federation, added, “Our federation has started an important collaboration with the Keron Development Foundation, which made all of this possible. Elina wished to compete under the Armenian flag and obtain Armenian citizenship, and we welcomed her initiative. Now, we have one of the world’s top 50 tennis players representing Armenia, and in a few years, Elina will also be able to join the Armenian women’s national team. This is very inspiring for all our young athletes, who will see Elina’s journey and strive for similar achievements.”
The tennis player, who is originally from Artsakh, greeted children from Artsakh right after the press conference and presented them with gift cards from the “InCourt” tennis club, allowing them to attend free tennis lessons for one month.
The day concluded with a fantastic master class, during which Elina shared her skills and advice with young tennis enthusiasts, signed tennis balls, and gave the children unforgettable memories.
