Judo tatami was spread at Tbilisi Sports Palace. On March 21-23 Georgia will host Grand Prix international tournament. 24 countries will take part in this competition. 37 of 192 judoka will wrestle on behalf of Georgia. Irakli Uznadze, head coach of men’s team, has used the quota maximally and raised 4 composition. 9 Georgians will participate in the women’s tournament.
Tomorrow 5 sets of medals will be contested – 60 and 66 kg weight categories in men and 48, 52 and 57 in women. The opponents of the Georgians are already known.
In 60 kg Amiran Papinashvili is No.1 seed between 16 participants and he will open the tournament with a meeting against Mongolian Ceden Iash Raakhnajav. In case of winning he will wrestle against the winner between Kazakh Gabit Iesimbetov and Armenian Garik Harutunyan.
In the lightest weight Giorgi Brolashvili, Paata Merebashvili and Lukhum Chkhvimiani will be involved. In 1/8 final Brolashvili will face Vugar Shirinli of Azerbaijan, Merebashvili – Jewish Ioav Shemesh and Chkhvimiani – Armenian Grigor Ivanian.
In 66 kg Giorgi Zantaraia, member of Ukrainian team, has the highest ranking among 20 judokas. Tristan Peikrishvili of Georgia is closer to him. Their paths intersect in the quarterfinals, but before they should overcome one stage. Tarlan Kirimov of Azerbaijan will be the opponent of Peikrishvili in 1/8 final.
Giorgi Kaldani and Gela Kelikhashvili will be involved from 1/16 final. Kaldani will face Kazakh Nauruzbek Mailashev, Kelikhashvili will compete with Jewish Bar Raufman. Shalva Kardava will start from the second circle and will face Armenian Davit Khazaryan.
Women’s team has no representatives in two lightest weight. In 57 kg 3 Georgian judoka will fit kimono.
In 1/8 final Salome Abashidze will face Hungarian Katinka Szabo, Mariam Tsikhelashvili – Kipayat Gasimova of Azerbaijan and Sophio Beridze – Russian Tatiana Noskova.
On March 22 the medals in 73 and 81 kg weight categories will be awarded in men, in women – in 63 and 70. On March 23 men will reveal the best in 90, 100 and +100 and women in 78 and +78.
Saturday’s main intrigue will be a repeat of the London Olympics final in 66kg – this time Lasha Shavdatuashvili and Hungarian Miklosh Ungvar will face each other in the initial stage in one weight higer.
On Sunday in 90 kg Beka Ghviniashvili, current World and European champion, will face Kyril Denisov, leader of Russian team and current European champion.
Preliminary stage meetings will start at 10:00 am on all three days. The final block battles will start at 17:00.
Otar Maghlakelidze
