The Georgian delegation suffered the first huge disappointment at Rio Olympics. Avtandil Tchrikishvili, flagbearer of Georgia and one of the leaders of the judo team, who was No.1 seed in 81 kg finished Olympics without medal. Tchrikishvili won all meetings in the morning program and lacked two wins to gold medal.
Tchrikishvili had a chance to become the first Georgian judoka who won gold European, world and Olympic gold medals.
Tchrikishvili started participating from the second round. He beat Ivan Felipe Silva Morales of Cuba by yuko. Then, the Georgian won over Juan Diego Turcios of El Salvador by two shidos.
In ¼ final Tchrikishvili defeated Matteo Marconcini of Italy by waza-ari and yuko.
After the morning program I asked coach Irakli Uznadze to summarize Tchrikishvili’s wrestling. Uznadze told me everything was going according to the plan and Tchrikishvili would achieve his goal.
Unfortunately, this plan did not work and Avtandil lost to Travis Stevens of the USA in semifinal.
In repechage final Avtandil Tchrikishvili wrestled Takanori Nagase of Japan for bronze medal and lost by yuko.
Yesterday the most titled member of the Georgian delegation, shooter Nino Salukvadze overcame the qualifying round of 25 m pistol. The vice president of the Georgian National Olympic Committee earned 584 points and made through to semifinal with the third place.
In semifinal Salukvadze took the 6th place with 14 points and could not go through to final.
On August 9 archer Khatuna Narimanidze started competing in the individual championship. However, she failed the first round to Lidiia Sichenikova of Ukraine. The both athletes gained 25-25 points in the first set but then, Sichenikova gained advantage and won three sets 25:24, 27:24, 28:27.
Archers Yulia Lobzhanidze and Kristine Esebua will hold the first round meetings today.
Shooter Tsotne Machavariani will try to overcome the qualifying round. Sandro Bazadze will compete in fencing. Judokas Varlam Liparteliani (90 kg) and Esther Stam (70 kg) will wrestle in the name of Georgia.
Otar Maglakelidze, special correspondent of worldsport.ge in Rio de Janeiro
