Lukhum Chkhvimiani, member of the Georgian youth judo team, needed one victory for standing on the pedestal at European Championship which started in Sarajevo today.

The Georgian judoka (60 kg) held five fights. He defeated Carmine Maria di Loreto of Italy by ippon and Daniel Ben David of Israel. Lukhum lost gold-silver chance in ¼ final where he was beat by future champion Rashad Rufullayev of Azerbaijan.

In repechage semifinal Chkhvimiani won over Egor Mgdsyan of Russia. In “bronze final” the Georgian lost to another Azerbaijani Oruj Valizada by ippon.

Vazha Margvelashvili of Georgia also wrestled in 60 kg. In 1/8 final he lost to Patryk Wawrzyczek of Poland by waza-ari. Before that Vazha defeated Jamie Raijmakers of Holland in three minutes and half.

Today champions and prize winners were found out in 55 and 66 kg. The Georgian team did not have participants in these weight categories.

Eight Georgians will wrestle in the rest five weight categories: Levan Gugava (73 kg), Ushangi Margiani (81 kg), Beka Gviniashvili, Lasha Taveluri (both 90 kg), Guram Tushishvili, Tornike Otinashvili (100 kg), Levan Matiashvili and Giorgi Zakariadze (both +100 kg).

Matiashvili is current champion of Europe. Gviniashvili is a silver medal winner, Gugava and Tushishvili are bronze medal winners.

Otar Maglakelidze