Varlam Liparteliani (90 kg), member of Georgian judo team, took the 5th place at Baku World Masters. Georgian judoka who is in the 9th place at World ranking started participation in the tournament with beating Khurshid Nabiev (the 11th). 2-time European silver medal winner Georgian beat his opponent by ippon 1 second before the final siren. In the 1/4 final, Liparteliani wrestled against Azerbaijani Elkhan Mamadov (the 7th) and after the main and added time finished draw, referees decided to declare Mamadov as a semifinalist. In spite of that Varlam could not win medal, he will improve his personal rating with 80 points.
Today, Levan Tsiklauri (81 kg), Levan Zhorzholiani (100 kg) and Zviad Khanjaliashvili (+100 kg) wrestled on Baku tatami but they lost in the first circle.
Tsiklauri (the 13th) lost against Japanese Takahiro Nakai by ippon. Zhorzholiani (the 12th) was beat by Azerbaijani Elmar Gasimov (the 33rd). Hantei decided the fate of the match between Khanjaliashvili (the 21st) and Japanese Keiji Sudzuki (the 5th). Referees declared Sudzuki as a winner.
Georgian national team finished the first international tournament of the season without a medal. Liparteliani and Amiran Papinashvili (60 kg) showed the best results - they took the 5th places.



Otar Maglakelidze