Georgian free-style wrestlers finished 2010 season one month ago and as for Greco-Roman wrestlers, their winter holiday starts in a day. There were found out winners in -55, 60 and 74 weight categories in 2-day Georgian championship which is underway at Judo Academy named after Shota Chochishvili.

Order in the gym is noteworthy, it is due to two factors: security guards and foreign referees.
According to the decision of Georgian wrestling federation, there were Armenian referees in three of the tatamis. Maybe they were wrong in some situations but there was not any kind of irritation form coaches, sportsmen or fans. Georgian referees always are blamed in subjective decisions.
The only problem which is easily solved is low temperature and dark light in the gym.  There were a lot of spectators as it was expected.
There were 16 wrestlers in 55 weight category. Among them was Lasha Gogitidze Georgian current champion. He won easily as usual. After beating Temur Tsirdava (Tbilisi) , Akhmed Beridze and Amiran Shavadze (both of them from Adchara ), he got decisive victory after beating Zurab Macharashvili (Ozurgeti), won golden medal and kept annual salary. Macharashvili also showed his possibilities perfectly.  He managed to beat silver and bronze medals’ winners, Zurab Kekelidze and Giorgi Gvenetadze (both of them from Adchara). This time, Genadi Kutateladze (Tskaltubo) and Amiran Shavadze (Adchara) took the third place.

 Revaz Lashkhi former champion kept championship in 60 weight category. He beat Irakli Chochua in decisive fight. Before him, be won over Tornike Totikashvili, Sulkhan and Piruz Tsiklauri. These two lasts are European current champions. Piruz won bronze medal as well as Gogita Gogiberishvili (Samtredia).

Archil Turmanidze (66 kg, Adchara) offered the main surprise to spectators. Silver prize-winner at European Championship won over four opponents: Merab Kajaia (Adchara), Aleksandre Tabatadze (Tbilisi), Zaza Sanikidze (Kutaisi) and Murad Abuladze (Adchara). He lost with Mukhran Machavariani who is more experienced and became a champion. Anotn Mamageishvili became a champion at this weight category last championship, which was held in January. But Machudadze beat him and after fighting in repechage he managed to win only bronze medal. Marad Abuladze (Adchara) also won bronze medal.

The most titled Greco-Roman wrestlers in 74 weight category Manuchar Kvirkvelia and Genadi Gogishvili a former champion did not participate in this championship. But Manuchar Tskhadaia the best sportsman of 2009 wrestled quite successful in this weight category. His and Ilia Gulbatanashvili’s(Tbilisi) match was the best fight of the day. Tskadaia won this match and took the first place. Before this match he won over the following players: Ramin Pesvadze (Adchara), Sergo Kighuradze (Samtredia), Avtandil Margalitadze (Ozurgeti) and Giorgi Javakhia (Tbilisi)/ as for Gulbatashvili, he won over Giorgi Tsirekidze (Kutaisi).

After the tournament Tskhadaia informed us that he is seriously thinking about changing weight category. He wants to wrestle in 74 weight category at European Championship which will be held in March.

Today prize-winner and champions were found out in 84, 96 and 120 weight categories. Unexpectedly Ramaz Nozadze did not participate in this tournament. According to the preliminary information he had to wrestle in heavy weight category, his private coach Otar Tatishvili also confirmed this information but .. the second unpleasant news was that Manuchar Kvirkvelia also could not participate in this championship. Supposedly, Nozadze and Kvirkvelia due to missing Georgian championship will miss European one also. 

Greco-Roman Wrestling
Georgian Championship
Tbilisi
December 22

55 kg
1 Lasha Gogitadze (Kutaisi)
2 Zurab Macharashvili (Ozurgeti)
3 Amiran Shavadze (Adchara)
3 Genadi Kutateladze (Tskaltubo)

60 kg
1 Revaz Lashkhi (Borjomi)
2 Irakli Chochua (Tbilisi)
3 Gogita Gogiberashvili (Samtredia)
3 Piruz Tsulukidze (Adchara)

66 kg
1 Archil Turmanidze (Adchara)
2 Mukhran Machutadze (Adchara)
3 Anton Mamageishvili (Kutaisi)
3 Marad Abuladze (Adchara)

74 kg
1 Manuchar Tskhadaia (Khobi)
2 Ilia Gulbatashvili (Tbilisi)
3 Zurab Datunashvili (Tbilisi)
3 Ramin Pevadze (Adchara) 

Otar Maglakelidze