Biurakn Hakhverdian
Encyclopedia
Biurakn Hakhverdian (born 4 October 1985 in Leiden) is a Dutch
water polo
player who represents the Dutch national team
in international competitions. She is of Iranian Armenian descent.
Hakhverdian was born in Leiden, where she began her water polo career playing for Zwem Vereniging Leiden (ZVL). In 2000, She rose to national level as she was selected for the national Dutch junior women's team. Two years later, she became the captain of the Dutch national junior women's team.
Since 2004, she has been playing for the Dutch national senior women's team. In 2005, Hakhverdian stopped playing for ZVL and signed a contract with Ethnikos Piraeus
(Athens
, Greece
), but returned within three months after internal mismanagement. Upon her return to the Netherlands, Hakhverdian signed a contract with Polar Bears and has been playing for them since.
Hakhverdian was part of the Dutch team that finished 10th at the 2005 World Aquatics Championships
in Montreal
. At the 2006 FINA Women's Water Polo World League
in Cosenza
and the 2006 Women's European Water Polo Championship
in Belgrade
they finished in 5th place, followed by the 9th spot at the 2007 World Aquatics Championships
in Melbourne
. The Dutch team finished in fifth place at the 2008 Women's European Water Polo Championship
in Malaga
and they qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing
. There they won the gold medal on 21 August, beating the United States
9-8 in the final
.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
water polo
Water polo
Water polo is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores more goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water , players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing into a...
player who represents the Dutch national team
Netherlands women's national water polo team
The Netherlands women's national water polo team is the national team of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It was one of the leading teams in the world during the 1980s and 1990s. More recently they claimed the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics...
in international competitions. She is of Iranian Armenian descent.
Hakhverdian was born in Leiden, where she began her water polo career playing for Zwem Vereniging Leiden (ZVL). In 2000, She rose to national level as she was selected for the national Dutch junior women's team. Two years later, she became the captain of the Dutch national junior women's team.
Since 2004, she has been playing for the Dutch national senior women's team. In 2005, Hakhverdian stopped playing for ZVL and signed a contract with Ethnikos Piraeus
Ethnikos Piraeus Water Polo Club
The Ethnikos Piraeus Water Polo Club is a water polo club participating in the First Divion of the Greek Championship . Ethnikos is the most successful water polo club in Greece...
(Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
), but returned within three months after internal mismanagement. Upon her return to the Netherlands, Hakhverdian signed a contract with Polar Bears and has been playing for them since.
Hakhverdian was part of the Dutch team that finished 10th at the 2005 World Aquatics Championships
2005 World Aquatics Championships
The 2005 World Aquatics Championships or the XI FINA World Championships were held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada from July 16 to July 31, 2005...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. At the 2006 FINA Women's Water Polo World League
2006 FINA Women's Water Polo World League
The 2006 FINA Women's Water Polo World League was the third edition of the annual event, organised by the world's governing body in aquatics, the FINA...
in Cosenza
Cosenza
Cosenza is a city in southern Italy, located at the confluence of two historic rivers: the Busento and the Crathis. The municipal population is of around 70,000; the urban area, however, counts over 260,000 inhabitants...
and the 2006 Women's European Water Polo Championship
2006 Women's European Water Polo Championship
The 2006 Women's European Water Polo Championship was the eleventh edition of the now tri-annual event, organised by the Europe's governing body in aquatics, the Ligue Européenne de Natation...
in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
they finished in 5th place, followed by the 9th spot at the 2007 World Aquatics Championships
2007 World Aquatics Championships
The 2007 World Aquatics Championships or the XII FINA World Championships were held in Melbourne, Australia from 17 March to 1 April 2007...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. The Dutch team finished in fifth place at the 2008 Women's European Water Polo Championship
2008 Women's European Water Polo Championship
The 2008 Women's European Water Polo Championship was the twelve edition of the bi-annual event, organised by the Europe's governing body in aquatics, the Ligue Européenne de Natation...
in Malaga
Málaga
Málaga is a city and a municipality in the Autonomous Community of Andalusia, Spain. With a population of 568,507 in 2010, it is the second most populous city of Andalusia and the sixth largest in Spain. This is the southernmost large city in Europe...
and they qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
. There they won the gold medal on 21 August, beating the United States
United States women's national water polo team
The United States women's national water polo team represents the United States in international women's water polo competitions and friendly matches. It is one of the leading teams in the world since the late 1990s....
9-8 in the final
Water polo at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament
The women's water polo tournament at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing was held from 11 August to 21 August at the Beijing's Ying Tung Pool....
.