At the last preparation meeting for the World Championship, Georgian Judo Team held open training at the Shota Chochishvili Judo Academy in Digomi district. Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs and Judo Federation management attended at the training.
Head coach used most of training time for control matches - judokas who will participate in World Championship wrestled with other candidates of the team. After the training, priest who was in the hall blessed the judokas.
World Championship will be held in Tokyo on September 9-13 and 15 Georgians will compete in it. According to the decision of Judo International Federation, countries participating in World and European Championships will be able to represent two participants in each weight classes. Georgian team will use this quota completely.
"It is the first time when participant country is allowed to represent two sportsmen in each weight classes. More Georgian judokas will have a chance to show himself to the world and we will have to worry more. Let's hope that our boys will do their best and will fight for high goals" - stated Lado Vardzelashvili in the conversation with "World Sport" and added - Ministry of Sport will support the sportsmen.
Giorgi Aleksidze, first vice-president of Judo Federation, stated that except Georgia, only 5 teams will compete in the championship with 2 staff. Those teams are: Japan, South Korea, the USA, Russia and Mongolia.
Now about the training - one of the team leaders Varlam Liparteliani has a shoulder injury and he has not been training fully for more than a week.
"I have missed the Tbilisi meeting. I got injured at the previous meeting in Borjomi. Fortunately, it is not serious. Tendoms are stretched and as doctors said I would be able to train fully within some days. If we do not count this missed period, I had a good preparation cycle and I think, I will be ready for World Championship" - stated Liparteliani. Heavyweight wrestler Lasha Gujejiani made the most optimistic comment from the team:
"I have never been prepared so well. I feel it while training and at the control matches. I passed the whole preparation course and maybe this made me more self-confident. I will fight till the end and the result will be known in Tokyo".
Head coach of the team confirmed that all judokas are close to their optimum form, though, he did not make any prognosis:
"Team passed 3 preparation stages for World Championship. Bakuriani hosted the first stage, then we trained in Borjomi and at last we gathered with expanded staff in Tbilisi. Belarusian meeting is also worth mentioning where 18 teams participated except us. Joint trainings were very useful for boys. They are completely ready to fight for high goals. I do not like making prognosis in advance, especially now, when number of participants are doubled and Japan, homeland of Judo, hosts the championship. The championship will show the results. All Georgian judokas can fight for medals" - stated Amiran Totikashvili.

Georgian Judo Team:
60 kg
Davit Asumbani, Amiran Papinashvili
66 kg
Mindia Khomizuri, Shalva Kardava
73 kg
Zaza Kedelashvili, Nugzar Tatalashvili
81 kg
Levan Tsiklauri, Giorgi Shinjikashvili
90 kg
Varlam Liparteliani, Mindia Bodaveli
100 kg
Irakli Tsirekidze, Levan Jorjoliani
+100 kg
Lasha Gujejiani, Adam Okruashvili
Absolute
Aleksandre Mskhaladze

Otar Maglakelidze