Begi Darchia, head coach of Georgian Greco-Roman wrestling team, named the sixth member of the staff one day before leaving for Sofia. Sandro Dikhaminjia will wrestle in the name of Georgia in 96kg. Soso Jabidze will also wrestle in this weight class at the license tournament which will take place in the city of China, Ta-Yuan. As for world and European champion Ramaz Nozadze, he might return to international arena at the last license tournament – on May 4-6 in Helsinki. Though, this issue is less active yet.

Begi Darchia took 6 wrestlers to Bulgaria. Goderdzi Davitadze will wrestle in 55kg, Piruz Tsulukidze – in 60kg, Zurab Datunashvili – in 74kg, Revaz Nadareishvili – in 84kg, Sandro Dikhaminjia – in 96kg and Sergo Gogisvanidze – in 120kg. Last year’s European champion Revaz Lashkhi (60kg) and world, European and Olympic champion Manuchar Kvirkvelia (74kg) are not in the list. They will wrestle at Chinese tournament. Only Manuchar Tskhadaia (66kg) has Olympic license from Georgian team.

Freestyle wrestlers will also participate in the tournament. Georgian team has already guaranteed licenses in four weight classes – Malkhaz Zarkua (60kg), Davit Khutsishvili (74kg), Davit Marsagishvili (84kg) and Davit Modzmanashvili (120kg) earned licenses at last World Championship. Head coach Zaza Turmanidze will give chances to Vladimer Khinchegashvili (55kg), Zurab Iakobashvili (66kg) and Giorgi Gogshelidze (96kg).

Khinchegashvili, Iakobashvili and Gogshelidze will wrestle on mat on April 20. Davitadze, Tsulukidze, Datunashvili and Nadareishvili will wrestle on April 21, Dikhaminjia and Gogisvanidze – on April 22. Georgian referee – Malkhaz Jorbenadze, general secretary of Wrestling Federation, will judge the tournament in Sofia.

In Bulgaria, finalists will gain London licenses, in China – 3-3 best and in Finland – finalists. If sportsman who has already guaranteed license will get in quota, sportsman behind him will gain license.

Otar Maglakelidze