Sport

Physical Training and Sport at Yerevan Polytechnic Institute

The physical training of the students has its honorary place at Yerevan Engineering University of Armenia.

Since the very first days of the establishment of the Institute physical training and sport have had their unique place in its activities. But, as the hours meant for physical training were limited, teachers were invited only by hourly-paid system. This was the main reason that there has not been a separate Chair of physical training for many years. It was connected with the course of special disciplines at the Institute.

Parallelly with the gradual increase in the quantity of the students the hours of physical training also increased.

At the beginning of the academic year 1935-1936 Khachik Sandalyan, a well-known sportsman in the Republic, was invited for the post of the Chief Lecturer on this discipline. He held this post till World War II.

Under the direction of Khachik Sandalyan a discipline cycle of physical training, in which a number of lecturers were involved, was established. In a short time, Khachik Sandalyan could bring the physical training up to the level.

It must be mentioned that in 1937 the students’ athletic team of the Institute, under the direction of Khachik Sandalyan, participated in the Inter-University Competitions in Moscow and won the third place, gaining the commendation of the All-Union Committee of Higher Establishments of the USSR.

At that time it was a great achievement for the cycle of physical training of the Institute.

During World War II, as well as in the after-war period, the discipline of physical training was again transferred to the Chair of Special Training of the Institute, whose activities during the war period (1941-1944) were headed by Manvel Boryan; in 1944 – by Mushegh Aydinyan, in 1945 – by Armenak Saroukhanyan.

In 1946 the Department of Physical Training separated from the Military Chair of the Institute, and a separate department was formed. Loris Hovsepyan was invited to head the Department activities.
In April, 1948 a Chair of Physical Training and Sport whose Head was Loris Hovsepyan was organized at the Institute. At the end of the academic year 1949-50 he was succeeded by Hamazasp Teymur Mkrtchyan.

Hamazasp Teymur Mkrtchyan worked as a Senior Lecturer at the Chair of Physical Training till 1990.

For his long working activity Hamazasp Teymur Mkrtchyan was awarded the Diploma of the Presidium of Supreme Soviet of the USSR, and in 1983 he was awarded many other diplomas. Hamazasp Teymur Mkrtchyan died in 1993.

During these years the first- and second-year students took the courses of physical training. Besides, the groups of sport advancement acted.

At that time the men’s volleyball team was famous for its achievements in Armenia. The Head of the team was Vardan Hovhannisyan –a student of the Chemical Department. Later, Vardan Hovhannisyan became the Head of the Chair of Physical Training of Agricultural Institute, referee of an all-union level and Professor.

The teams of Polytechnic Institute always took the tops in competitions.

In 1951 the Committee of Physical Training of Armenia sent M. M. Goutov to YPI. That year the number of students was over 1700, and the number of teachers at the Chair was 8.

Owing to Goutov’s efforts, sport grounds were built at the Institute, thus consolidating the work of the sport groups. The number of the groups of sport advancement increased, the students became interested in the discipline of physical training.

Owing to Goutov’s efforts, the Students’ Sport and Health Center was built in Hankavan, on the bank of the river Marmarik.

In 1956 Institutional Sports and Athletics Meetings, i.e. championship among the departments, were initiated, which, according to the tradition, have been organized each year up to now. Since 1957 the Polytechnic Institute Team has participated in the Republican University Sports and Athletics Meetings. Since 1958 the team has participated in the sports and athletics meetings held among the Faculties. The representative teams of Polytechnic Institute took the prize-winning places in the mentioned games.

The students of Polytechnic Institute were always the members of the RA national teams that participated in the Sports and Athletics Meetings of the USSR Peoples; in 1963 – 27 students, in 1967 – 30 students.

In October 1967, Albert Souren Zhamagortsyan, one of the oldest teachers of the Institute, was appointed the Head of the Chair of Physical Training and Sport. He held this post till 1968. He was one of the founders and the leader of the Sport Club. Zhamagortsyan has been elected supervisor of education of the Chair of Physical Training and Sport thrice. In 1968 he was appointed the Head of the Chair. He played a significant role in the organization of sport and health centers. His good knowledge of sport, great skills in organization were shown in the gymnastic group which he headed during all his experience. A. S. Zhamagortsyan worked at the Chair of Physical Training till 1988.

In 1968 the administration of the Institute offered the ex-teacher of the Chair of Physical Training and Sport Leonid Hakob Metsatunyan for the post of the Head of the Chair. He held this post from 1968 to 1980. On L.H.Metsatunyan’s initiative, sport and health camps were organized where the teams of the Institute were trained actively. Later he worked in the Olympic Centre in Tsaghkadzor where he died in 1983.

In 1980 Albert Suren Melkonyan took the post of the Head of the Chair of Physical Training and Sport. Due to A.S.Melkonyan’s efforts all the gyms of the new sport centre have been equipped, the number of specialized sport groups has increased.

At present A.S.Melkonyan trains the university team on triathlon which has become the champion of the republic many times.

In 1987 according to the decision of the Academic Board of the University Prof. A.A.Ghochikyan was appointed the Head of the Chair. He has played a significant role in the improvement of the methods of teaching.

Since 1993, on A.A.Ghochikyan’s initiative, the Chair of Physical Training and Sport has given up the traditional teaching methods and taken up specialized training. The point is that the student himself chooses the kind of sport and the time of training. It has resulted in the high per cent of attendance and progress.

A.A.Ghochikyan pays great attention to scientific research and teaching methods.


Chair Info Research Scientific Work Conducted at the Department of Sports and Physical Training Kinds of Sport Athletics Basketball Handball Korfball Table tennis Volleyball Chess Swimming Rhythmic Gymnastics Special Medical Group Sport Centers Contacts Homepage		Physical Training and Sport at Yerevan Polytechnic Institute The physical training of the students has its honorary place at Yerevan Engineering University of Armenia. Since the very first days of the establishment of the Institute physical training and sport have had their unique place in its activities. But, as the hours meant for physical training were limited, teachers were invited only by hourly-paid system. This was the main reason that there has not been a separate Chair of physical training for many years. It was connected with the course of special disciplines at the Institute. Parallelly with the gradual increase in the quantity of the students the hours of physical training also increased. At the beginning of the academic year 1935-1936 Khachik Sandalyan, a well-known sportsman in the Republic, was invited for the post of the Chief Lecturer on this discipline. He held this post till World War II. Under the direction of Khachik Sandalyan a discipline cycle of physical training, in which a number of lecturers were involved, was established. In a short time, Khachik Sandalyan could bring the physical training up to the level. It must be mentioned that in 1937 the students’ athletic team of the Institute, under the direction of Khachik Sandalyan, participated in the Inter-University Competitions in Moscow and won the third place, gaining the commendation of the All-Union Committee of Higher Establishments of the USSR. At that time it was a great achievement for the cycle of physical training of the Institute. During World War II, as well as in the after-war period, the discipline of physical training was again transferred to the Chair of Special Training of the Institute, whose activities during the war period (1941-1944) were headed by Manvel Boryan; in 1944 – by Mushegh Aydinyan, in 1945 – by Armenak Saroukhanyan. In 1946 the Department of Physical Training separated from the Military Chair of the Institute, and a separate department was formed. Loris Hovsepyan was invited to head the Department activities. In April, 1948 a Chair of Physical Training and Sport whose Head was Loris Hovsepyan was organized at the Institute. At the end of the academic year 1949-50 he was succeeded by Hamazasp Teymur Mkrtchyan. Hamazasp Teymur Mkrtchyan worked as a Senior Lecturer at the Chair of Physical Training till 1990. For his long working activity Hamazasp Teymur Mkrtchyan was awarded the Diploma of the Presidium of Supreme Soviet of the USSR, and in 1983 he was awarded many other diplomas. Hamazasp Teymur Mkrtchyan died in 1993. During these years the first- and second-year students took the courses of physical training. Besides, the groups of sport advancement acted. At that time the men’s volleyball team was famous for its achievements in Armenia. The Head of the team was Vardan Hovhannisyan –a student of the Chemical Department. Later, Vardan Hovhannisyan became the Head of the Chair of Physical Training of Agricultural Institute, referee of an all-union level and Professor. The teams of Polytechnic Institute always took the tops in competitions. In 1951 the Committee of Physical Training of Armenia sent M. M. Goutov to YPI. That year the number of students was over 1700, and the number of teachers at the Chair was 8. Owing to Goutov’s efforts, sport grounds were built at the Institute, thus consolidating the work of the sport groups. The number of the groups of sport advancement increased, the students became interested in the discipline of physical training. Owing to Goutov’s efforts, the Students’ Sport and Health Center was built in Hankavan, on the bank of the river Marmarik. In 1956 Institutional Sports and Athletics Meetings, i.e. championship among the departments, were initiated, which, according to the tradition, have been organized each year up to now. Since 1957 the Polytechnic Institute Team has participated in the Republican University Sports and Athletics Meetings. Since 1958 the team has participated in the sports and athletics meetings held among the Faculties. The representative teams of Polytechnic Institute took the prize-winning places in the mentioned games. The students of Polytechnic Institute were always the members of the RA national teams that participated in the Sports and Athletics Meetings of the USSR Peoples; in 1963 – 27 students, in 1967 – 30 students. In October 1967, Albert Souren Zhamagortsyan, one of the oldest teachers of the Institute, was appointed the Head of the Chair of Physical Training and Sport. He held this post till 1968. He was one of the founders and the leader of the Sport Club. Zhamagortsyan has been elected supervisor of education of the Chair of Physical Training and Sport thrice. In 1968 he was appointed the Head of the Chair. He played a significant role in the organization of sport and health centers. His good knowledge of sport, great skills in organization were shown in the gymnastic group which he headed during all his experience. A. S. Zhamagortsyan worked at the Chair of Physical Training till 1988. In 1968 the administration of the Institute offered the ex-teacher of the Chair of Physical Training and Sport Leonid Hakob Metsatunyan for the post of the Head of the Chair. He held this post from 1968 to 1980. On L.H.Metsatunyan’s initiative, sport and health camps were organized where the teams of the Institute were trained actively. Later he worked in the Olympic Centre in Tsaghkadzor where he died in 1983. In 1980 Albert Suren Melkonyan took the post of the Head of the Chair of Physical Training and Sport. Due to A.S.Melkonyan’s efforts all the gyms of the new sport centre have been equipped, the number of specialized sport groups has increased. At present A.S.Melkonyan trains the university team on triathlon which has become the champion of the republic many times. In 1987 according to the decision of the Academic Board of the University Prof. A.A.Ghochikyan was appointed the Head of the Chair. He has played a significant role in the improvement of the methods of teaching. Since 1993, on A.A.Ghochikyan’s initiative, the Chair of Physical Training and Sport has given up the traditional teaching methods and taken up specialized training. The point is that the student himself chooses the kind of sport and the time of training. It has resulted in the high per cent of attendance and progress. A.A.Ghochikyan pays great attention to scientific research and teaching methods.