Sports Journalists’ Association of Georgia has published results of traditional New Year referendum. Since 1964 year, reps of Georgian media name the best sportsman and the best team of the year and award the winner before New Year. During years special award events used to be held, but this year (as well as last year) no one financed this event and that’s why we received results of this referendum by e-mail from Elguja Berishvili president of Sports Journalists’ Association.
31 reps of Georgian media have found out 10 best Georgian sportsmen and the best team of 2011. This year it was the 46th referendum. There were named 42 sportsmen from 14 different fields of sport.
Mamuka Gorgodze member of Georgian national rugby team and French “Montpellier’ became the best sportsmen of 2011, he gained 231 points. Viktor Sanikidze member of Georgian national basketball team and Italian “Canadian Solar” took the second place with 195 points. Kristine Esebua (archer) – silver prize winner at World championship and winner at European team championship (in winter) took the third place with 191 points.
Tornike Shengelia (baksketball), Gia Machavariani (wrestling), Manuchar Markoishvili (basketball), Levan Kobiashvili (football) were in ten 10.
Georgian basketball team was called as the best team of 2011. This following team managed to go through final tournament of European championship 2011 and as a result was among 12 best teams. Among best teams were also called Georgian national rugby team (World Cup finalist in 2011), Women archer’s team (winner of European team championship 2011) and U-19 football team (managed to go through elite-round at European championship).
Top ten of the best sportsmen of 2011:
1 Mamuka Gorgodze (rugby) 231
2 Viktor Sanikidze (basketball) 195
3 Kristine Esebua (archery) 191
4 Revaz Lashkhi (Greco-Roman wrestling) 138
5 Davit Marsagishvili (free-style wrestling) 124
6 Manuchar Tskhadaia (Greco-Roman wrestling) 102
7 Zaza Pachulia (basketball) 98
8 Nino Salukvadze (bullet shooting) 77
9 Vladimer Khinchegashvili(Free-style wrestling) 64
10 Irakli Tsirekidze (judo) 53
Laureates of Georgian Sports Journalists’ Association Poll:
1964 _ Slava Metreveli, 1965 _ Omar Phkhakadze, 1966 _ Aleksandre Metreveli, 1967 _ Zurab Sakandelidze, 1968 _ Viktor Sanaevi, 1969 _ Nona Gaphrindashvili, 1970 _ Tinatin Lekveishvili, 1971 _ Levan Tediashvili, 1972 _ Viktor Saneevi, 1973 _ Levan Tediashvili, 1974 _ Levan Tediashvili, 1975 _ Nona Gaphrindashvili, 1976 _ Viktor Saneevi, 1977 _ Davit Kvachadze, 1978 _ Maia Chiburdanidze, 1979 _ Temur Khubuluri, 1980 _ Ketevan Losaberidze, 1981 _ Ramaz Shengelia, 1982 _ National chess team, 1983 _ Teimuraz Apkhazava, 1984 _ Maia Chiburdanidze, 1985 _ Davit Gobejishvili, 1986 _ Maia Chiburdanidze, 1987 _ Leri Khabelovi, 1988 _ Nino Salukvadze, 1989 _ was not held, 1990 _ Davit Gobejishvili, 1991 _ was not held, 1992 _ Kakhi Kakhiashvili, 1993 _ Kakhi Kakhiashvili, 1994 _ National women’s chess team, 1995 _ Giorgi Vazagashvili, 1996 _ Eldar Kurtanidze, 1997 _ Giorgi Kandelaki, 1998 _ Giorgi Asanidze, 1999 _ Nino Salukvadze, 2000 _ Giorgi Asanidze, 2001 _ Giorgi Asanidze, 2002 _ Eldar Kurtanidze, 2003 _ Eldar Kurtanidze, 2004 _ Zurab Zviadauri, 2005 _ Revaz Mindorashvili, 2006 _ Zaza Kedelashvili, 2007 _ Ramaz Nozadze, 2008 _ Irakli Tsirekidze, 2009 _ Manuchar Tskhadaia, 2010 _ Davit Zirakishvili, 2011 _ Mamuka Gorgodze.
Otar Maglakelidze
