Oleg Iadze head coach of Georgian Sambo Team told the following to journalists: “In compare with the previous championship, we showed worse results, but if we compare our results to teams’ results of other kinds of sport, of course we have advantage”. Today’s press-conference at Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs summarized results in details at European Sambo championship which was held in the capital of Bulgaria, Sophia on May 13-14.
“Championship was organized very well. Only 21 countries participated in it. Year by year their number shortens. It is due to wrong attitude of Russians. They specially do not want to increase number of participants. They afraid of loosing leadership when Sambo becomes one of the parts of Olympic Games. At the same time there was held congress of international federation and I stated that there will be regress in case of continuing such politics. Some of the delegates supported me. As for the tournament we had chance of winning two medals. Kakha Mamulashvili (74 kg) lost with such rival who had never been obstacle for him. He lost decisive fight the second time. He should overcome that psychological obstacle.  Mindia Bodaveli (90 kg) also had chance of becoming champion. But he had the strongest rival – Belarus Andrey Kazusionok. That judoka won over Varlam Liparteliani in final of European Championship whichw as held in Tbilisi.But to my mind Bodaveli can beat him, just he has to wrestle without risk and it will be better.  World Championship is ahead and rivalry between Bodaveli and Kazusionok will continue there. Ushangi Kozanashvili had the best results, he represented 57 kg category. He won three matches but in spite of this he won over the main rivals I am sure that he will improve his wrestling and he will fight for the highest title at world championship.We gave a chance to Beka Imerlishvili to wrestle in 68 kg category, because he had success at international tournaments. He gained silver medals in this weight category.  Nakhutsrishvili will represent this weight category at World Championship.  Imrelishvili took the third place in Sophia. Nikoloz Kutsia (82 kg) as well as Mirian Pavliashvili (100 kg) won bronze medals. Unfair referee also played big role that he could not go through final. He is young guy and I expect him to wrestle well at world championship. As for Pavliashvili, maybe he is veteran, but we do not have anyone better that he is in this weight category. He has many titles and that’s why he will wrestle at world championship.Dimitri Mumladze (52 kg) is also prospective sportsman.  He is determined and prospective. As for Davit  Svimonishvili (62 kg). This time he could not fight as before because he gained weight. Gradually this problem also will be solved, as for world championship Nestor Khergiani will wrestle in 62 weight category. As for heavy weight Vakhtang Zoidze had chance of winning bronze medal, but he made mistake. Georgian team gained 28 points and took the third place. Russian team took the first place with 45 points and Belarus the second place with 41 points”- stated Oleg Iadze.

Head coach of Georgian Sambo Team asked vice-president of Sambo Federation to light up one problem: “This year two sambo players had to enter chair of physical culture at Ilia University, but unexpectedly they were said no. They were told that there is no enough vacant place for sambo”.
Iadze asked Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs to solve this problem and as deputy of Minister Gia Galdava stated at the press-conference, this limit will be only for a year.
 

Otar Maglakelidze