International Judo Federation published qualification system of London Olympic Games. There is much time till summer 2012 but we think that main sportsmen who will leave for Great Britain are already known. Only 5 best results are showed at the private rankings of sportsmen.
22 best men and 14 women judokas of each weight class will gain Olympic license. When a nation has two or more athletes ranked in the block the nation will choose which one of these athletes will receive the quota place.
If the qualification has finished, 6 sportsmen of Soso Liparteliani would have gained Olympic licenses.
Georgiadoes not have athlete in 73 kg. Zaza Kedelashvili and Nugzar Tatalashvili are close to license list but we should not rely on them in the near future because these judokas might not participate in international tournaments. Kedelashvili is punished by head coach because he missed Georgian Championship. Tatalashvili competed in the national championship but he was left behind top three.
Tengiz Paposhvili, current champion of Georgia, has a chance to start fighting for license. He has 62 license points and is 162 points behind Vu Su Choi (224 points) who is in the 22nd place. In order to participate in London Olympic Games, Paposhvili needs to compete successfully in Tbilisi World Cup (January 29-30).
Also, there is a difficult situation in 66 kg. Shalva Kardava is sharing XXI-XXII places with Italian Francesco Faraldo. Kardava needs victory at Tbilisi World Cup like air.
Amiran Papinashvili and Davit Asumbani have gained licenses. Papinashvili is in the 9th place with 560 points. Asumbani is in the 13th place with 482 points.
Levan Tsiklauri (81 kg) who is in the 8th place has gained license (582 points). Varlam Liparteliani (90 kg) also gained license. He is in the 7th place with 684 points.
In 100 kg, Levan Zhorzholiani is in the 11th place with 564 points. Irakli Tsirekidze (the 19th place, 358 points), current Olympic champion, is punished for missing Georgian Championship and it is not known yet, whether he participates in international tournaments or not.
There are many Georgian judokas in heavyweight class. Liparteliani will have to make a choice among Zviad Khanjaliashvili (the 16th, 348), Adam Okruashvili (the 20th, 308) and Lasha Gujejiani (the 22nd, 260).
One season and half is still left before expiring license marathon and all 28 judokas who are in the list of Tbilisi World Cup have a chance to wrestle on London tatami.
Otar Maglakelidze
