Georgian athlete Raul Tsirekidze (85kg) did well at European Weightlifting Championship, which is underway in the city of Turkey, Antalya.  He was the only weightlifter who used all the six attempts in snatch and clean and jerk, as a result he became champion.
In the first attempt, Tsirekidze lifted 160, 163 and 165 kg barbell and was behind only Turkish Fatih Baydar, who snatched 166kg.  Raul won silver medal in clean and jerk, where he lifted 193, 196 and 200 kg barbell. German Tom Schwarzbach was ahead Georgian sportsman in this attempt.
In total Tsirekidze gathered 365 kg and deserved gold medal, Baydar took the second place (259kg) and Romanian Gabriel Sancraian won bronze medal.
Giorgi Asanidze World and Olympic Champion participated in award ceremony. By the way Asanidze won World championship in 2001 and European championship in 2002 in Antalya. And one more thing, Georgia has new anthem for ten years and in spite of this Turkish side switched on old anthem “Dideba”, but besides this Georgian champion expressed his emotions very well.
Avtandil Gakhokidze and Aleko Nozadze head coaches of Georgian national teams represented other three weightlifters in Antalya. Today, Raul Tsirekidze (85kg) competes and on April 145 Aluda Managadze (105kg) will. On April 15 Irakli Turmanidze (+105kg) will represent Georgia at European championship.
As far as you know, Vano Grikurov head coach of Georgian national team does not represent this tournament, because he is training Gia Machavariani for Olympic Games. Machavariani is having an individual preparation for London Olympics. For avoiding danger of getting injury he does not participate in European championship.

Dato Majnavidze

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