Emil Vartazarian is an Armenian-Iranian retired rugby[3] and association football player who played for the India national rugby union team from 1998 to 2006.[4] He has also played professional football for Bengal Mumbai FC in the Mumbai Super Division League alongside Mohammedan Sporting in the Calcutta Football League.[5]
Birth name | Emil Vartazarian | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date of birth | 25 May 1976 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Tehran, Iran[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 72 kg (159 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Armenian College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
University | University of Calcutta | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Spouse | Thuthi Vartazarian | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Children | 1 daughter | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Club career
editVartazarian came here from Tehran in 1987 when he was 10, as many Armenians do. They come to study at the Armenian College (Kolkata)[6] and Philanthropic Academy of Calcutta.
Besides Rugby, Vartazarian was also good enough in association football and played for Jamshid Nassiri managed Bengal Mumbai FC in the MDFA Elite League from 2003 to 2004.[7][8] He previously played for Kolkata-based Mohammedan Sporting in 2001–02 season,[9][10] after graduating in film studies from St. Xavier's College.[11]
Coaching career
edit- Technical Director: Tamil Nadu rugby team (2008)
- Head Coach : Iran national rugby union team (2007)
Achievements
editVartazarian played rugby for his college team from 1991 until 1995. Vartazarian had to stop as the college team did not have a team for school students one year under the age of 19. As a result of this he started to play for the Armenian Soccer Club from 1993 to 2001.
The last time, during representing his prestigious Armenian team, Vartazarian was a part of the squad that won the All India Beach 7 a-side rugby in Chennai, in 2001.[12] He was a regular member in the Indian national rugby team which was established in 1998.
Managerial career
editBy profession, Vartazarian was the Technical Director for the South Indian Rugby Football Association (SIRFA). In addition to this, he was also a key player in the Chennai state team (Chennai Cheetahs) and coach of both the Chennai team and the Tamil Nadu Police state team. He was also the assistant coach for the Indian under-19 Rugby team. With him as a player and coach, the Chennai Cheetahs won the All-Indian Beach Seven a side tournament in Chennai in 2003, went up to the semi-finals in the all India tournament in 2002 as well as 2003, won the National Cup in 2004, lost the finals in 2005 and once again brought home the cup in 2006. They have also won the South India 'Ten a side' tournament in 2007 and 'All India Sevens' in 2005.
Vartazarian also managed the first Iranian national team, leading them to victory against Pakistan in a series of two test matches in 2007.[13][14][15]
Personal life
editVartazarian has a degree in Film Studies from St. Xaviers College, Kolkata. Charismatic, good looking and superbly fit, he has appeared in commercials for Seven Up, Park Avenue and some energy drinks. His hobbies include rigorous gym work outs and cooking for his family and friends. He has interests in cinema and starting an ethnic Iranian-Indian cuisine restaurant. Vartazarian has also completed a Master's course in Sports Management in Australia, and currently resides in Melbourne, Victoria.[2][16]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Armenian College: Emil Vartazarian (Biography) web.archive.org. Retrieved 11 March 2021
- ^ a b Bhattacharya, Nikhilesh (3 September 2010). "Emil thankful for India connect". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 6 September 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
- ^ "Lahore rugby team for all India tourney". Zee News. Archived from the original on 4 May 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ^ Rodgers, Barry (31 January 2023). "Why the Armenian community doesn't get enough credit for advancing rugby in India". theestablished.com. The Established. Archived from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 17 June 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2009.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Armenian school caters to diverse students". NDTV. 18 November 2006. Archived from the original on 9 June 2019. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
In the usual Class I, students, all from Iran, are much older than regular school beginners.[...]But learning English is of paramount importance, in fact, the main reasons why they left Tehran for Kolkata.[...]The Armenian School is affiliated to the ICSE board. Iran apart, most students in the school are from Armenia, one from Iraq and only two from Kolkata.
- ^ Chaudhuri, Arunava. "Season ending Transfers 2003: India". indianfootball.de. Indian Football Network. Archived from the original on 17 February 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- ^ Chaudhuri, Arunava. "Season ending Transfers 2004: India". indianfootball.de. Indian Football Network. Archived from the original on 17 February 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- ^ Chaudhuri, Arunava. "Season ending Transfers 2001: India". indianfootball.de. Indian Football Network. Archived from the original on 17 February 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- ^ Chaudhuri, Arunava. "Season ending Transfers 2002: India". indianfootball.de. Indian Football Network. Archived from the original on 17 February 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
- ^ Emil Vartazarian wanting to get established in India Archived 4 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine The Indian Express (archive.indianexpress.com). Retrieved 11 March 2021.
- ^ Emil Vartazarian : An Armenian-Iranian Rugby and Football player, Achievements[permanent dead link] amp.en.vaskar.co.in. Retrieved 11 March 2021
- ^ "Chennai Symbolically Comes Together To Wish "Chennai Cheetahs" Success!". Boldsky. 6 October 2009. Archived from the original on 6 September 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
- ^ Krishnamurthy, Akhila (22 October 2007). "Guru cool". India Today. Archived from the original on 6 September 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
- ^ "Cheetahs in Chennai!". The Hindu. 21 October 2009. Archived from the original on 4 May 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
- ^ Shetty, Rachna (21 June 2007). "No lights or camera, only action". hindustantimes.com. Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
External links
edit- Rugby_gallery (Emil Vartazarian) at BBC (UK)
- [1]
- [2]
- [3]