On October 11-14 Georgian youth, junior and girl’s teams gained 3 gold, 5 silver and 10 bronze medals at the World Championship in Thessaloniki.
Youth team was the most resulting – only 2 of 10 weight categories stayed without medals. Giorgi Metreveli (60 kg) became World Champion. On the way to the final, he defeated Greek Nikos Ivanidisa, Belarusian Aleg Nahorn and Kazakh Airbek Aymagambetov and in the decisive fight he overcame Russina Pavel Terekhov.
Irakli Kupatadze (52 kg) and Apolon Zurabiani (75 kg) stayed beyond the pedestal, they needed only one victory. Kupatadze lost the final meeting to Mongolian Bayara Amartuvshin and Zurabiani lost to Russian Mikhail Vodovskov.
Tornike Chovelidze (65kg), Giga Nozadze (70kg), Irakli Gogia (81kg), Joni Chitanava (87kg) and Giorgi Lazuashvili (+87kg) won the bronze medals. Zurab Rokhvadze (48kg) took the 5th place and Solomon Tediashvili (56kg) was eliminated from the first circle of the Championship.
The junior national team won 1 gold and 3 silver and bronze. Ushangi Margiani (82kg) ended the tournament without a loss. The Georgian wrestler opened the Championship by winning over Ukrainian Yuri Pozhar. Then he overcame Ivane Gomarteli, member of Greece team, and Kazakh Ierasul Kayrbek and in the final he won over Moldovan Genadi Pretivat.
In three heaviest weight categories, the members of Georgian team wrestled in the final, but none of them was able to become the champion. Teimuraz Khachidze (90kg) lost the decisive fight to Tajik Komronshoh Ustopirion, Tornike Otinashvili (100kg) defeated with Russian Dimitri Torgashov and Guga Kibordzalidze (+100kg) lost to Russian Edgart Smereka.
Giorgi Melkuashvili (48kg), Tornike Muzashvili (57kg) and Mikheil Mezurnishvili (74kg) became bronze winners. Beka Tugushi (68kg) reached the final of the repechage and in the end took the 5th place. Leri Bedinadze (48kg) and Lukhum Chkhvimiani (62kg) lost in the first round.
Georgian women team also participated successfully. Elene Kebadze became the World heavy weight Champion by defeating Serbian Malisa Zabici, Russian Anastasia Trapeznikova and Bulgarian Syan Khristova.
Nino Martiashvili (60kg) and Tea Sukhitashvili (68kg) won the bronze medals. Sopo Beridze (56kg) stayed beyond the pedestal. Georgia was represented in Greece only with these 4 athletes.
Youth and junior teams took the 2nd place. Russia has become the champion in both age group. Kazakhstan took the 3rd place in youth and Tajiks in juniors.
Otar Maglakelidze
