Soso Liparteliani new head coach of Georgian Judo National Team will have debut on October 15-17. Georgian team will participate in Grand-Prix of Rotterdam. On October 30-31 Georgian team will leave for Turkey and will participate in the World Championship, which will be held in the capital of Turkey, Istanbul.
According to preliminary information Georgian team plans to participate in Dutch Grand-Pix.Georgian team did not participate in World Cup which was underway in the former capital of Kazakhstan, Alma-Ata. Sportsmen from other countries gained some points for London Olympics. On October 2-3 the same tournament will be hosted by Rome and in a week on October 9-10 by Minsk.
World Cup will be held in the city of Samoa, Apia (November 12-13) and in the city of South Korea, Suvono (December 3-4). Grand-Pix will be take place in the city of the United Arab Emirates, Abu-Dab on November 23-24. This season will finish with Big Slam which will be held in Tokyo on December 10-12.
Rating marathon of Olympics will last in 2011-2012 and before two months will be found out 32 Judokas in each weight categories, which will represent Georgia in London Olympic Games. 22-22 will be chosen according to the best rating and other places will be chosen according of quota which is settled by federation. In difference with Europe and World Championships, new rule that each country has right to represent one weight category only with one sportsman will work in London Olympic Games. Sportsman who has better rating showings than his compatriot will represent his homeland in London Olympic Games.
In spite of latest retreat of Georgian National Team has real chance of represent Georgia with 7-men team in London Olympic Games. There are not any other problems in Georgian Judo Federation and National Team and Soso Liparteliani’s sportsmen have chance of winning license for Olympic Games beforehand.
Till 2012 summer is much time, there will be a lot of tournaments and Georgian team will have big chances of improving the rating for the Olympic Games. According to traditional rating which was published by Official web-site of Judo International Federation after finishing of World Championship Varlam Liparteliani has the best showing among Georgian Judokas. He wrestles in 90 weight category and he is on the 8th place(he took the 5th place in World Championship). Besides Liparteliani, there is Levan Tsiklauri other Georgian judoka in the top ten (81 kg). Davit Asumbani (60kg) and Levan Zhorzholiani (100kg) are on the 11rst place. Zviad Khanjaliashvili (+100) is on the 19th place and is ahead of other Georgian heavy weight judokas (He was not called up By Amiran Totikashvili). Shalva Kardava (66kg) and Zaza Kedelashvili (73 kg) is beyond the top twenty. Kardava is on the 25th place and as for Kedelashvili, he is on the 22nd place.
The most prestige is World Championship and champion gains 500 rating point. Silver winner gains 300, bronze winners -200 and as for the 5th place winners they gain 100 points. Other profitable tournament is the World Master, which is held once in the year and only the best rating owners wrestle on tatami. Champion of Master gains 400 points, the silver owner – 240, the third place winner- 160, the 5th place winner- 80. World Master is distinguished with it is prize money, which is the following 200 000 USD, the first second and the third place winners are awarded with 6, 4 and 2 000 USD. Prize money of Grand Prix is 150 000 USD, Big Slam- 100 000 USD. But at Big Slam the best top three are awarded with 300, 180 and 120 points and at Grand Pix- 200, 120 and 80 points.
Judokas at European Championship gain less point than at other tournaments. Golden medal winners gain 180 points, silver winners- 108 points, bronze winners- 72 points. At World Cup judokas can gain the least points, but in exchange of it this tournament is held very often. Champion gains 100 points, the second place winner- 60 and the third place winner- 40 points.
It is worth mentioning that judoka who loses in the semi quarter of World Championship, European Championship and World Cups continues fighting for the bronze medal. At Big Slam, Grand Prix and at World Master the rule of repechage does not work.
Georgian National Team prepares for Rotterdam Grand-Prix at Judo Academy named after Shota Chochishvili. New head coach has not named the main staff for the Netherlands yet.
Otar Maglakelidze
