Champions and prize winners were found out in 73 and 81kg on the second day of Chelyabinsk European Championship. Four judokas wrestled on tatami in the name of Georgia but none of them stood on the pedestal. Avtandil Chrikishvili had the most real chance to get in Top 3 but he did not use it – in repechage final Avtandil lost to Konstantins Ovchinnikovs of Latvia by waza-ari and took the fifth place.

In the first round Chrikishvili beat Aliaksandr Stsiashenka of Belarus. Then, he defeated Elkhan Rajabli of Azerbaijan. After beating experienced opponents, 21-year-old Alexander Wieczerzak of Germany seemed desired rival in ¼ final. One interesting statistic – in 2010, in Morocco Alexander Wieczerzak of Germany became world champion in 73kg and Chrikishvili – in 81kg. In Chelyabinsk, Georgian-German match ended up with victory of German judoka.

In repechage Chrikishvili won Axel Clerget of France by waza-ari-yuko but it was his last victory at Russian European Championship.

Levan Tsiklauri also wrestled in 81kg in the name of Georgia. But he managed to overcome only the first round – after defeating Laszlo Csoknyal of Hungary by waza-ari, Levan lost to Joachim Bottieau of Belgium.

Zebeda Rekhviashvili (73kg) gained only one victory. He lost to Dex Elmont, finalist of Tbilisi European Championship and world two-time finalist. Before that, Zebeda defeated Kostiantyn Ananchenko of Ukraine.

Nugzar Tatalashvili wrestled on tatami only once. He started participation from the second round and lost to Volodymyr Soroka of Ukraine by hantei.

Volodymyr Soroka won Mansur Isaev of Russia and went through final but Ugo Legrand of France did not let him double gold medal which he won at Tbilisi European Championship in 2009. In repechage Isaev lost to Iosef Palelashvili of Israel who won bronze medal.

On the last day of European Championship – on April 28 champions and prize winners will be found out in last three weight classes. Varlam Liparteliani and Zurab Zviadauri will wrestle in the name of Georgia in 90kg, Levan Zhorzholiani and Irakli Tsirekidze – in 100kg, Adam Okruashvili and Zviad Khanjaliashvili – in +100kg.

Judo

European Championship

Chelyabinsk

April 27

73kg

1 Ugo Legrand (France)

2 Volodymyr Soroka (Ukraine)

3 Iosef Palelashvili (Israel)

3 Dex Elmont (Holland)

81kg

1 Sirazhudin Magomedov (Russia)

2 Murat Khabachirov (Russia)

3 Joachim Bottieau (Belgium)

3 Konstantins Ovchinnikovs (Latvia)

5 Avtandil Chrikishvili (Georgia)

Otar Maglakelidze