The 9th place among 10 participants – it is the result of Georgian freestyle wrestling team at World Cup. On the second day of the tournament, the 4th round matches and matches for the 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th places were held.
Georgian team which lost three times needed to beat joint team of Hungary and Kazakhstan to take the 9th place. The team of Davit Khurtsia and Davit Otiashvili could not do it and lost 3:4 (in the first three matches Georgians lost 2:5).
Besik Gochashvili (55 kg) lost the 4th match in a row on Makhachkala mat and Hungary-Kazakhstan advanced. Malkhaz Kurdiani (60 kg) equalized the score. Before that, Kurdiani had 3 losses like Gochashvili. Opponents of Georgians gained point in 66 kg. Injured Shalva Muziashvili could not wrestle today.
Gela Sagirashvili (74 kg) beat Gabor Hatosh. Beak Chelidze (84 kg) lost against Ishtvan Veber and Hungary-Kazakhstan advanced again. Davit Kerashvili (96 kg) won over Gergel Kish.
Wrestling of Giorgi Sakandelidze and Daniel Liget turned out quite tense and before the final whistle it turned into fight. Liget shouted at Sakandelidze. Because of it, Georgian heavyweight tried to beat him. Hungarian wrestler pointed Georgian delegation something. Most spectators could not understand it. Here is the reason of grief:
6 months ago, Levan Berianidze beat Daniel Liget at World Championship which was held in Moscow. After the final whistle, Sakandelidze showed him the same gesture which Liget showed him today.
Georgia took the 5th place in Group B and wrestled against Bulgaria to take the final 9th place. All Georgians won their matches except Sagirashvili. Even injured Muziashvili could beat his injured opponent because Muziashvili could show up on the mat.
Russian team won 100 000 USD at World Cup. The hosts beat Iran 5:2 in the final. Azerbaijan won over Uzbekistan in the match for the 3rd place. Iran won 60 000 USD and Azerbaijan – 40 000 USD.
Otar Maglakelidze
