Champions and prize winners were revealed in two weight categories of judo at Rio Olympics. Yesterday Georgia had only one judoka on the Brazilian tatami - Amiran Papinashvili lacked one step to the first Georgian success at Rio Olympics.
It was incredibly difficult to gain access to Carioca Arena. I could not find front door and asked the group for help. This group is specially made for this work. They showed me the way but finally, it turned out that they did not know either. It is the first day and we were mistaken – they told me in the evening.
It is my only second Olympics but I am sure organizational side of Rio Olympics is in the last place in the last 20 years. There is no question you ask and they give you correct answer. Sometimes they prefer to tell the lie rather than to say they do not know. That is why it took me an hour and half to find judo hall.
As a result, I could not attend Papinashvili’s first meeting when he beat Sergio Pessoa of Canada by waza-ari and yuko. During the break, some Georgian journalists decided to use free time and go to tennis courts. The same problem again and we went back because the judo break was not enough to find the courts. Later, I learnt even more curious story from one of my colleagues – on the opening day bus driver could not find Maracana stadium and the journalists had to get off the bus.
Now back to the main story of the day. It was easy to guess that Amiran Papinashvili would win the first two meetings and in ¼ final he would face one of the main favorites – Naohisa Takato of Japan. Indeed, after defeating Pessoa Amiran won over Yanislav Gerchev of Bulgaria.
Before Rio Olympics Amiran Papinashvili has faced Takato twice and lost both meetings. This time the Georgian won by ippon.
One more win and Papinashvili would win at least silver medal but he was to wrestle another favorite Beslan Mudranov of Russia.
“It is important to wrestle from distance and to have Mudranov under pressure” – Davit Kevkhishvili, president of the Georgian Judo Federation, told me.
Amiran partially took Kevkhishvili’s tactical considerations into account and lost.
Later, the member of the Russian team became an Olympic champion. In repechage final Papinashvili fell to Diyorbek Urozboev of Uzbekistan and took the fifth place. Giorgi Margvelashvili, president of Georgia, and the officials of the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs and the Georgian National Olympic Committee attended the final block.
Disappointed Davit Kevkhishvili left tribunes immediately.
Brazilian fans were more disappointed. The tribunes were crowded because Sarah Menezes (48 kg) was to wrestle. The current Olympic champion only made through to ¼ final and could not reach Top 3.
Yesterday shooter Tsotne Machavariani had a debut at Olympics. He earned 574 points and took the 29th place which was not enough for the final. Machavariani lacked 6 points for overcoming the qualifying round.
Today the Georgian fans will have more interesting and busy day. Judoka Vazha Margvelashvili (66 kg) will start competing. Archers Khatuna Narimanidze, Kristine Esebua and Yulia Lobzhanidze will face Mexico. Shooter Nino Salukvadze will also show up. Tennis player Nikoloz Basilashvili will play Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay in the first round. Swimmer Teona Bostashvili will compete in 100m breaststroke.
Otar Maglakelidze, special correspondent of worldsport.ge in Rio de Janeiro
