Amiran Papinashvili member of Georgian national judo team has returned from Japanese tournament recently. He injured at this tournament and according to the preliminary diagnose situation was quite difficult – he needed operation, but as it was found out later the situation was not alarm. Now Papinashvili, who has the highest ranking among other members of national team is training and getting ready for the next international tournament – World Master.
- While training in Japan I suffered from pain of waist and knee. The most complicated was my knee’s injury. Doctors examined me and told me that I had liquid in it, that’s why I left the tournament in advance.
- You had a serious knee injury in early time too.. 
- In 2009 I had the same problems on knee and that’s why was operated on, At this time, according to the preliminary diagnose I needed operation again, fortunately I do not need it, I am training for two days.  
- You have not mentioned wait injury..
- Everything is ok to my waist. I had pains due to intensive training. After making analyzes doctors advised me to rest and prescribed me medicine for relaxing muscle. I agreed with head coach of national team and rested for a week. 
- Alma-Ata World Master opens season on January 14-15. Are you going to participate in it?
- Of course, I am going. Master is one of the prestige tournaments. The best judokas participate in it and world ranking changes much after it.
- In world ranking you have progress and a week ago took the fifth place, in Olympic license ranking you keep the fourth place..
- It is pleasant. I have never taken such high position in ranking. I will do my best for more progress.
- It will be too difficult, because sportsmen keeping the third-fourth places are 300 points ahead you.
- 300 points are too much, but I see nothing alarming. A lot of ranking tournaments are ahead us, which can change a lot of thing. For example, champion at World Master can gain 400 points. The main is not to have trauma and to be very determined.
- You know favorite in 60 kg weight category. Who is distinguished judoka for you?
- It is too difficult to chose one of them, Uzbek Roshod Sobirov, Japanese Hirokai Hiraoka, Ukrainina Giorgi Zantaria and Armenian Hovanes Davtyan are strong judokas. I have wrestled against Sobirov and Zantaria many times before and I am sure that in case of good preparation I will manage to beat them in spite of having little minimal balance with them. As for Davtyan and Hiraoka, I hope I will wrestle against them in spring.
- How would you estimate 2011 season?
- I could not manage to win any medal at European and World Championships, but in spite of this to my mind this season was quite normal. I, as a sportsman grew up very much and now I am sure, that I can fight for high goals.
- Are you in optimal condition for the next season?
- It is far from optimal condition, but it is not unusual. As a rule at the beginning of preparation cycle, the main attention is paid to physical preparation. I will try to prepare in such way in three weeks that manage to succeed in Kazakhstan.
 

Otar Maglakelidze