Sarmen Sinani

Biography

Sarmen Sinani has wanted to represent Canada since watching the athletes carry the Canadian flag at the Olympic Games. He has made two world championship appearances, first as a junior in 2007 and then as a senior in 2014. His career highlight is winning three bronze medals at the 2014 Pan American Championships. He followed up with a silver medal at the 2015 Pan Am Championships.

PERSONAL

Family: Parents Ardashes and Hripsik Sinani… Older brother Sevak… Moved to Canada in November 1997 with his family… Cousin Gegard Mousasi fights in the UFC… Getting into the Sport: Started karate at age 10 when his father signed him up to learn self-defence… Outside Interests: Enjoys relaxing and spending time with friends and family… Works as a granite countertop fabricator at Sinco Granite… Graduated college in 2009… Odds and Ends: Favourite motto: “haya haya”… Biggest influence has been Shinan Farhad Varasteh, the founder of karate in Iran and his first karate teacher… Has a good luck keychain with a cross and a ring…  Pre-competition ritual is to touch the mats and make the sign of the cross… Nickname: wkfchamp…

NOTABLE INTERNATIONAL RESULTS

PAC: 2015 – SILVER; 2014 – BRONZE

WKF WCh: 2014 – participant; 2007 (junior) – participant