Four sets of medals were awarded among men at Grand Slam, which is underway in Baku. The Georgian team won only one medal – in 81kg Ushangi Margiani wrestled in final and lacked one step to reach the first international title.
20-year-old judoka won 3 meeting of 4 and together with silver medal earned 300 ranking points.
Margiani was involved in the tournament from the 1/8 final and won over Chinese Hemubatu Eri by Yuko, Wazari and Ippon. He overcame German Hanes Conrad by Yuko, won over Russian Arsen Pshmakhov by one shido. In final he lost to another representative of Russia, Alan Khubetsov by Yuko.
In 8kg weight two judokas participated on behalf of Georgia, but only Margiani reached the podium.
For Zebeda Rekhviashvili, who is a member of the Georgian team in 73kg weight, it is increasingly hard to decrease extra weight from tournament to tournament and this is why he wrestles in 81kg from time to time. Three months ago, he even became the champion at Oberwart Open tournament. This time he occupied the 7th place.
In the main draw of Baku Grand Slam Zebeda hold 3 meetings. In 1/16 final he beat Uzbek Shakhzod Sobirov, made the referee warn Tunisian Abdelaziz Ben Amar four times, in ¼ final could not do anything against Canadian Antuan Valua and moved to repechage where lost to Azerbaijani Mamadali Mehdiev. The Georgian was leading the first four minutes and even was winning yuko, but finally he lost.
Today, Lasha Shavdatuashvili and Tengiz Paposhvili (both 73kg) also wrestled at Grand Slam, but lost in the initial stage.
Shavdatuashvili beat Azerbaijani Vugar Bairamov, but could not do anything against the future champion – Jewish Sagi Muk. As for Paposhvili, he lost to Turkish Bairam Cheilan.
Tomorrow champions-winners will be found out in the remaining three weight categories: 90, 100 and +100kg. Two-two judokas will wrestle on behalf of Georgia in all three categories.
Zviad Gogochuri (90kg), who is No.1 seed, will face the winner among Dutch Jilom Elmon and Chinese Rijigava Si, Beka Gviniashvili (90kg) will compete with Swiss Siril Grosklaus, Guram Tushishvili (100kg) – Russian Zafar Makhmadov, Aleksandre Mskhaladze (100kg) – Kazakh Maksim Rakov, Rostom Khakhaleishvili (+100kg) – Moroccan El Mehdi Malki and Giorgi Zakariadze (+100kg) – Ushangi Kokauri of Azerbaijani. Tomorrow, Irine Leonidze (+78kg), the only member of the Georgian women’s team, will be involved in the tournament and her first opponent will be Chinese Xiaonan Key.
Otar Maglakelidze
