Antranik Youth Association

This article is about the Lebanese sports and cultural association. For the pan-Armenian organization it is part of, see Armenian Youth Association.

The Antranik Youth Association (AYA) (Arabic: جمعية شباب الأنترانيك; Western Armenian: Անդրանիկ Երիտասարդաց Ընկերակցութիւն), or simply Antranik (Arabic: الأنترانيك; Western Armenian: Անդրանիկ), is a Lebanese-Armenian multi-sports and cultural club based in Antelias, Matn District, Lebanon. Established in Beirut, Lebanon in 1931, it has consisted of various sports departments throughout their history, including basketball, football, cycling, tennis, taekwondo, chess, table tennis, and athletics.^[1]

Antranik

Full name	Antranik Youth Association
Short name	AYA
Founded	1931; 93 years ago (1931)
Based in	Antelias, Lebanon
Colors	Red and blue

Named after the Armenian military commander Antranik Ozanian, Antranik is the Lebanese section of the Armenian Youth Association (AYA), the sports, cultural, and youth program of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU). Antranik has branches in Beirut, Antelias, Zahlé, Sin el Fil, and Bourj Hammoud.^[2]

Basketball

Main article: Antranik Youth Association (basketball)

Founded in 1987,^[3] Antranik's men's basketball team have participated multiple times in the Lebanese Basketball League. The women's team have won the league 10 times in a row, between 2002 and 2012, and have been crowned champions of the Arab Women's Club Basketball Championship twice.^[4]

Football

Main article: Antranik Youth Association (football)

Antranik formed its football team in 1931; they were one of the Lebanese Football Association's founding members in 1933.^[5] The first team participated in the Lebanese Premier League during the 1930s and 1940s, while their reserve team played in the Lebanese Second Division, winning it in 1940–41.^[6] They currently play in the .^[7]

Other activities

The Lebanese chapter of Antranik also runs numerous cultural activities including its own theatrical group, the Troupe Vahram Papazian, named after the pan-Armenian actor Vahram Papazian.^[8] They also run a programme in scouting.^[9]

References

1. جمعية شباب أنترانيك تدشن في عيدها الـ88 ملعباً لكرة القدم — Al Laeb Al Arabiاللاعب العربي. Al Laeb Al Arabi (in Arabic). Retrieved 17 February 2021.
2. "Antranik Youth Association". AGBU Lebanon District. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
3. "Antranik". Goalzz. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
4. "Basketball". AGBU Lebanon District. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
5. Sakr, Ali Hamidi (1992). موسوعة كرة القدم اللبنانية 1991-1992 [1991–1992 Lebanese Football Encyclopedia] (PDF) (in Arabic). مؤسسة نوفل للتوزيع. p. 17. ISBN 0000281247.
6. "L'A.J. Andranik (B) champion de 2e catégorie" [A.J. Andranik (B) 2nd category champion]. L'Orient. 29 May 1941.
7. "Football". AGBU Lebanon District. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
8. "Vahram Papazian Theater". AGBU Lebanon District. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
9. AGBU. "Antranik Scout Camp". www.agbu.am. Archived from the original on 11 August 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2021.

External links

• Official website