Only judoka Beka Gviniashvili wrestled from the Georgian athletes on the 7th day of Rio Olympics. The 20-year-old athlete started wrestling in 100 kg a year ago and gained Rio licence. Besides that, he managed to win some prestigious titles.
Gviniashvili started participating from the second round. He beat Benjamin Fletcher of Great Britain by waza-ari. In the third round the Georgian judoka defeated Toma Nikiforov of Belgium by two waza-aris.
One more win and the 20-year-old Georgian judoka would have finished morning program without failure but he fell to Cyrille Maret of France by waza-ari.
During the break I talked to Davit Kevkhishvili, president of the Georgian Judo Federation, and he agreed with me that 100 kg is not Beka’s weight category because his opponents are taller than him and it is their huge advantage.
Davit Kevkhishvili was happy that in repechage semifinal Beka was to face Ryunosuke Haga of Japan not Lukas Krpalek of Czech Republic.
Krpalek became an Olympic champion later. Before that Beka Gviniashvili failed to current world champion Ryunosuke Haga by shido and finally, took the 7th place.
Today champions and prize winners will be revealed in men’s +100 kg and women’s +78 kg. Adam Okruashvili (+100 kg) will wrestle in the name of Georgia.
On August 12, trampolinist Luba Golovina will also compete in the name of Georgia. Athlete Bachana Khorava will participate in the qualifying round of long jump.
Otar Maglakelidze, special correspondent of worldsport.ge in Rio de Janeiro
