The Armenian Greco-Roman wrestling team is currently conducting training camps in Vladikavkaz, where Armenian wrestlers are preparing for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The national teams of Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Azerbaijan are also participating in the camps.
The Armenian team includes Slavik Galstyan (67 kg), Malkhas Amoyan (77 kg), and Artur Aleksanyan (97 kg) preparing for the Olympics.
During the training camp, Artur Aleksanyan met his long-time rival Musa Evloev in the 97 kg weight category. The wrestlers had a friendly dinner and discussed their past rivalry.
It is likely that Aleksanyan and Evloev will no longer face each other on the mat, as the Russian wrestling team will not participate in the Olympic Games in Paris. What will happen afterward is still unknown, as both athletes are already at a considerable age: Artur is 32 years old, and Musa is 31.
The rivalry between Aleksanyan and Evloev was a highlight of every major wrestling tournament. The Armenian and Russian met in the final of the last Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020, where Evloev won with a score of 5-1, although Artur was competing with an injury.
All encounters between Aleksanyan and Evloev in major tournaments:
Olympic Games 2020, Final: Musa Evloev – Artur Aleksanyan 5-1.
World Cup in Serbia 2020, Qualification: Musa Evloev – Artur Aleksanyan 5-1.
World Championship 2019, Semifinal: Musa Evloev – Artur Aleksanyan 5-0.
World Championship 2018, Semifinal: Musa Evloev – Artur Aleksanyan 3-1.
World Championship 2017, Final: Artur Aleksanyan – Musa Evloev 3-1.