It is difficult to remember when Georgian judo team had such bad result at international tournaments held in Tbilisi Sports Palace. At World Cup, winners of 3 weight classes from 7 have already been found out. 12 Georgian judokas wrestled on tatami and only one Georgian managed to win medal. If not success of Ambako Avaliani (73 kg), that day would have been more shameful.

Avalian became champion and we will start reviewing the day with his success. Avaliani held 5 matches and beat all his 5 opponents. He started competition with wrestling against Armenian Robert Vardanyan. Armenian judoka violated the rules and Ambako won that match. Future champion easily beat Ukrainian Dmitro Babichuk and Ioseb Palelashvili who competed in the name of Israel. In the semifinal, Ambako won over European champion 2009 Ukrainian Volodimir Soroka by yuko.

The final of Ambako Avaliani and Belarusian Aleksey Ramanchuk was the final match of the day. At that time, everyone knew that Georgian team failed that first day of the tournament. Only Avaliani was the last hope of fans. He beat Ramanchuk at the 37^th minute, became champion and gained 100 rating points.

Zviad Bazandarashvili, Tengiz Paposhvili and Zurab Nozadze wrestled in 73 kg. Bazandarashvili was close to top three but he lost against Soroka in repechage final and finally, took the 5^th place. Zviad started competition with 2 victories – he beat Armenian Artem Baghdasaryan and Ukrainian Konstantin Anachenko. In the ¼ final, he lost against Estonian Kinter Rotberg by waza-ari. In repechage final, he beat Nozadze. About 2 months ago, Bazandarashvili and Nozadze wrestled against each other in the final of Georgian Championship and Bazandarashvili won that time too. Nozadze wrestled in repechage because of losing against Ramanchuk by ippon. Before that, he won over French Mohamed Riad and Azerbaijani Nadir Babaev.

Paposhvili wrested only once. His opponent was Turkish Omer Yaman. According to the decision of referees, Yaman was declared as a winner. Georgian coaches and fans protested this decision but in vain.

Tristan Peikrishvili (60 kg) was beat by Russian Murad Abdulaev in the first circle. Betril Shukvani lost against Kazakh Yerkebulan Kosayev in the ¼ final. Before that, Shukvani won over Turkish Ozkanoglu Iskender by ippon within 18 seconds. Merebashvili also lost against Kosayev but in the semifinal. Before that, Merebashvili beat Azerbaijani Vugar Shirinli and Armenian Hovhannes Davtyan. Davtyan won over Shukvani and Asumbani in repechage.

Asumbani took the 5^th place. Before bronze final, he held 3 matches. He beat Azerbaijani Asim Khalafov by waza-ari and Armenian Gor Arutinyan. In the semifinal, Asumbani lost against Azerbaijani Ilgar Mushkiev by waza-ari. Merebashvili finished World Cup with the 5^th place. He was beat by Latvian Andreis Magers.

Levan Chubinidze and Arsen Macharashvili (both 66 kg) lost the tournament at the first stage. Chubinidze wrestled only once. While wrestling against future finalist Ukrainian Sergey Drebot, he violated the rules and was disqualified. Macharashvili beat Azerbaijani Samir Dadashzade but lost against Armenian Armen Nazaryan.

Shalva Kardava and Giorgi Shoshiashvili lost against Russian Mikhail Puliayev and Kazakh Sergey Lim in the ¼ final. They wrestled against each other in repechage. Kardava continued fighting for bronze medal but he was beat by Russian Denis Lavrentyev. Before the first loss, Kardava won over Latvian Maksim Morozov and Greek Georgios Azoidisi. Shoshiashvili beat Turkish Mehmet Durmaz and Ukrainian Gevork Gevorkyan.

On January 30, winners of 81, 90, 100 and +100 kg will be found out at Sports Palace. Georgian team will have 4-4 representatives in all weight classes. The first matches will start at 10:00 and finals – at 17:00.

Otar Maglakelidze

Judo. World Cup

Tbilisi. January 30

60 kg

1 Ilgar Mushkiev (Azerbaijan)

2 Yerkebulan Kosayev (Kazakhstan)

3 Hovhannes Davtyan (Armenia)

3 Andreis Mager (Latvia)

66 kg

1 Sergey Lim (Kazakhstan)

2 Sergey Drebot (Ukraine)

3 Denis Lavrentiev (Russia)

3 Mikhail Puliayev (Russia)

73 kg

1 Ambako Avaliani (Georgia)

2 Aleksey Ramanchuk (Belarus)

3 Ioseb Palelashvili (Israel)

3 Volodimir Soroka (Ukraine)