“I am very happy. After the operation and rehabilitation period, I returned to the mat and the most important is that I achieved success. I start preparation stage of London Olympic Games. I will compete in Games on the best form. But before that I must gain licence”, - stated Giorgi Gogshelidze, titled member of Georgian freestyle wrestling team, in army sports gym after winning Georgian Championship. European and world champion and Olympic prize winner proved once again that he is obvious leader in domestic competition.
96 kg has 16 participants. Gogshelidze defeated Viktor Kazishvili of Tbilisi. Then, he won over Levan Kobulashvili of Mtskheta and Mamuka Kordzaia of Adjara. In the final, Gogshelidze beat Elizbar Odikadze. The first set of the decisive match ended up without point and color of the ball was for Odikadze but he could not use it and lost. In the second set, he managed to gain gold point.
Archil Kitiashvili wrestled in a new weight class. Finalist of Tbilisi Golden Grand Prix in 84 kg wrestled in 96 kg and needed one victory to get in top 3 – he ended up participation in the main draw in ¼ final, losing to Odikadze. Kitiashvili lost to Davit Kerashvili in repechage final and finally, took the fifth place. Mamuka Kordzaia stood on the third step of the pedestal with Kerashvili.
60 kg ended up with the Gori final. Davit Berdznishvili defeated Giorgi Baliashvili.
Malkhaz Kurdiani of Bolnisi and Murtaz Kvesadze of Kutaisi took the third places. These wrestlers defeated brothers Lasha and Gocha Lomtatidze of Kutaisi and as they were left beyond the final, the Lomtadzes were not able to wrestle for bronze medal.
Here are sportsmen defeated Berdznishvili: Giorgi Dabrundashvili (Tbilisi), Abram Jabauri (Tbilisi), Amiran Kazarashvili (Gori), Murtaz Kvesadze (Kutaisi).
36 sportsmen wrestled in 74 kg. As Davit Khutsishvili did not participate in the tournament, Gela Saghirashvili was considered as one of the main favorites but finally, he was left beyond top 3 – he lost to Goga Khuchua of Samtredia in ¼ final.
The match which turned out one of the best of the whole day lasted for three sets. The main time of the first set ended up without point. Khuchua beat his opponent and went through the semifinal.
After half an hour, Khuchua held another three sets against 19-year-old Zurab Erbotsonashvili of Sagarejo. After the match, he needed the help of doctors. Iakob Makarashvili of Tbilisi wrestled well on the other side of the wrap.
He defeated five opponent on the way to the final: Guram Gonashvili of Dedoplistskaro, Giorgi Marsagishvili of Stepantsminda, Jaba Kadidze of Adjara, Giorgi Sanodze of Khoni and Ilia Khutsishvili of Tbilisi.
Freestyle wrestlers ended up season 2011. Greco-Romans will find out new champions and prize winners of Georgia on December 23-25.
Freestyle wrestling
Georgian Championship
Tbilisi
November 29
60 kg
1 Davit Berdznishvili (Gori)
2 Giorgi Baliashvili (Gori)
3 Murtaz Kvesadze (Kutaisi)
3 Malkhaz Kurdiani (Bolnisi)
74 kg
1 Iakob Makarashvili (Tbilisi)
2 Zurab Erbotsonashvili (Sagarejo)
3 Goga Khuchua (Samtredia)
3 Giorgi Marsagishvili (Stepantsminda)
96 kg
1 Giorgi Gogshelidze (Gori)
2 Elizbar Odikadze (Tbilisi)
3 Davit Kerashvili (Tbilisi)
3 Mamuka Kordzaia (Adjara)
Otar Maglakelidze
