Biurakn Hakhverdian

Biurakn Hakhverdian (born October 4, 1985 in Leiden) is a Dutch waterpolo player who represents the Dutch national team in international competitions. She is of Iranian Armenian descent. [http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/BIO/Athlete/4/218024.shtml Athlete biography: Biurakn Hakhverdian] , beijing2008.cn, ret: Aug 16, 2008] [ [http://radiozamaaneh.com/news/2008/08/post_6064.html مدال طلای المپیک زن ایرانی با تیم واترپلوی هلند (Radio Zamaneh, 2008)] ]

Hakhverdian was born in Leiden, where she began her waterpolo career playing for Zwem Vereniging Leiden (ZVL - Swimming Foundation Leiden). In 2000, Hakhverdian 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. She was part of the Dutch team that became 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 fifth 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 ended up winning the gold medal on August 21, beating the United States 9-8 in the final.

References