Tbilisi World Cup showed that Georgian judo is in a difficult situation. Georgian judo team managed to win only 4 medals at the mentioned tournament on this weekend. 28 Georgian judokas wrestled on tatami. These judokas were champions and prize winners of Georgian Championship which was held about two months ago.

Avtandil Chrikishvili (81 kg) and Ambako Avaliani (73 kg) won gold medals. The second day of the tournament was more successful than the first one. Other two Georgian sportsmen stood on the pedestal – Davit Karbelashvili (81 kg) and Zviad Khanjaliashvili (+100 kg).

Archil Shinjikashvili lost against the first opponent Russian Azamat Sitimov. Giorgi Tsotsiashvili, Saba Gavashelishvili and Lasha Guruli managed to win one match but they were beat in ¼ final and then continued wrestling in repechage.

After beating Azerbaijani Shahin Gahramanov, Tsotsiashvili lost against Ukrainian world champion Kuejau Nhabalt bt waza-ari. In repechage he wrestled against Gavashelishvili but violated rules and lost. Gavashelishvili wrestled in repechage because of losing against Russian Abdul Omarov by ippon. Before that, he beat Azerbaijani Kanan Nagyev by waza-ari. Gavashelishvili lost against Sitimov in bronze final and took the 5^th place. Guruli beat Tentore Masmanidis who is wrestling in the name of Greece. Ukrainian Vadim Siniavky was his next opponent and unfortunately, Guruli lost. In repechage, Guruli wrestled against Azerbaijani Ramin Gurbanov. Guruli was winning by waza-ari but finally, lost by ippon.

Wrestling of 100 kg started with unpleasant news for Georgian team. Davit Loriashvili, one of the favorites of the team, was disqualified because of violating rules against Kazakh Viktor Demianenko at the 15^th second of the match.

Revaz Chikoidze lost against Demianenko in repechage. Before that, he competed quite successfully. He beat Azerbaijani Emil Huseynov and Ukrainian Artem Bloshenko. But he lost against Hungarian Daniel Hadfi in the semifinal. Konstantine Mukvani and Malkhaz Nijaradze lost against their first opponents – Daniel Hadfi and another Hungarian Balint Farkash.

14 participants competed in heavyweight and only Russians Aleksandr Mikhailin and Andrey Volkov went through the final. Before that, Mikhailin beat Adam Okruashvili and Volkov won over Khanjaliashvili. Before losing against Volkov, Georgian judoka beat Kazakh Yerzhan Shinkeyev and Russian Aslan Kambyev. In repechage, he won over Belarusian Aleksandr Vakhaviak. The 4^th Georgian heavyweight Nodar Metreveli lost against Ukrainian Stanislav Bondarenko in the first circle.

And finally 81 kg. Many people expected success of Avtandil Chrikishvili who is winner of European and World Youth Championships. But it was surprise for everyone that Davit Karbelashvili went through the final. He beat 4 opponents before the final. Karbelashvili won over Azerbaijani Tural Safgulyev and Ukrainian Vitali Dudchik by ippons and another Kazakh Akhmed Sar by yuko.

Chrikishvili started participation in the tournament with beating Azerbaijani Rustam Alimr by yuko. Then he won over Jewish Yoel Razvozov by two waza-ari, Hungarian Kristian Tos by waza-ari and Azerbaijani Elkhan Rajabl. This match was one of the bests of the day. Chrikishvili won over Azerbaijani by ippon.

Georgian final turned out quite tense and it ended up with the victory of Chrikishvili.

Paata Gviniashvili also wrestled in 81 kg but he lost against Rajabl in the first circle.

Georgian team took the second place. Russians collected the most points. One interesting moment, when Russian anthem was sung while rewarding winners of 100 and +100 kg, Georgian fans stood up but turned their backs and rose Georgian flags.

The next international tournament will be hosted by France on the next weekend. Georgian team will participate in Paris Grand Slam.

Judo. World Cup.

Tbilisi. January 30

81 kg

1 Avtandil Chrikishvili (Georgia)

2 Davit Karbelashvili (Georgia)

3 Elkhan Rajabl (Azerbaijan)

3 Akhmed Sari (Turkey)

90 kg

1 Vadim Siniavsky (Ukraine)

2 Kuejou Nhabali (Ukraine)

3 Abdul Omarov (Russia)

3 Azamat Sitimov (Russia)

100 kg

1 Askhab Kostoev (Russia)

2 Daniel Hadfi (Hungary)

3 Artem Bloshenko (Ukraine)

3 Viktor Demianenko (Kazakhstan)

+100 kg

1 Aleksandr Mikhailin (Russia)

2 Andrey Volkov (Russia)

3 Zviad Khanjaliashvili (Georgia)

3 Aslan Kambyev (Russia)