On September 21-23 Georgian freestyle wrestling team won two gold medals at Heydar Aliyev “Golden Grand Prix”. Greco-Roman wrestling team ended up the tournament without medal.
Elizbar Odikadze (96kg) and Giorgi Sakandelidze (120kg) won gold medals and 10-10 000 USD. Odikadze defeated Ilham Abidov of Azerbaijan and members of Russian team: Shamil Akhmedov and Arslanbek Aliyev. Sakandelidze won over Azerbaijanis: Aslan Dzebisov and Ali Isaev and Aleksandr Bazrov. Iakob Makarashvili (74kg) needed one victory for medal and finally, took the fifth place.
Giorgi Edisherashvili and Tristan Chirgadze (both 55kg) lost the first round, like Greco-Roman wrestlers Nika Tsetskhladze (55kg), Marad Abuladze (66kg), Ilia Gulbatashvili (74kg), Revaz Nadareishvili (84kg), Irakli Kajaia (96kg) and Sergo Gogisvanidze (120kg). Only Tsetskhladze had chance to wrestle in repechage but he lost and took the 7th place.
This year’s “Golden Grand Prix” turned out weaker than last year’s. Most sportsmen who wrestled at the Olympics preferred to rest.
Otar Maglakelidze
