Georgian freestyle wrestling team left for Germany today. Dortmund will host European Championship 2011 on March 29 – April 3. First two days will be for freestyle wrestlers. Zaza Turmanidze, head coach of Georgian team, formed the team with gold medal winners of last Georgian Championship. He made exception only in 66 kg. International Wrestling Federation does not let Tsotne Baramidze, champion of Georgia, compete in the name of Georgia because he has already changed citizenship twice. Baramidze is citizen of Kazakhstan now. According to new rules of FILA, he has no chance and has to compete in the name of Kazakhstan.
Georgian team will wrestle on Dortmund mat without some titled wrestlers. Otar Tushishvili (66 kg), Revaz Mindorashvili (84 kg) and Giorgi Gogshelidze (96 kg) could not participate in Georgian Championship because of injuries.
Here are 7 wrestlers for European Championship: Vladimir Khinchegashvili (55 kg), Malkhaz Zarkua (60 kg), Koba Kakaladze (66 kg), Davit Khutsishvili (74 kg), Davit Marsagishvili (84 kg), Beldukh Gavashelishvili (96 kg) and Davit Modzmanashvili (120 kg). Three of them: Khinchegashvili, Zarkua and Modzmanashvili wrestled at last European Championship and Zarkua needed one victory for becoming champion – he lost against Russian Opan Sat in the final. Georgian team won 2 silver and 1 bronze medals at European Championship which was held in Baku in 2010. Giorgi Gogshelidze took the second place and Otar Tusheshishvili took the 3rd place. Georgian team took the 4th place with 34 points.
“The boys are on good form. The only thing which made us worry was injury of Beldukh Gavashelishvili – he hurt rib while training. I hope it will not prevent him from showing his possibilities” – stated Zaza Turmanidze to “World Sport”.
Head coach did not make prognosis.
On the first day – on March 29, winners will be found out in 60, 74 and 96 kg. On March 30, winners will be found out in 55, 66, 84 and 120 kg.
Otar Maglakelidze
