Yesterday, Georgian freestyle wrestling team won silver and bronze medals at European Championship which is underway in Belgrade. Davit Khutsishvili (74kg) needed one victory for becoming champion. Davit Modzmanashvili (120kg) took the third place.

Davit Khutsishvili beat Soner Demitras of Turkey, Eidan Argun of Germany, Kiril Stoychev Terziev of Bulgaria and Alexander Gostiev of Azerbaijan. Besides that, he held four matches so that did not lose even one set. In final, Davit wrestled against two-time world and three-time European champion Denis Tsargush of Russia. Khutsishvili lost points in the main time of the second set and took the second place.

Davit Modzmanashvili started participation from the second round – 1/8 final and lost chance of gold-silver medal. He lost to Daniel Ligeti of Hungary who won bronze medal at last European Championship. Ligeti is the wrestler who defeated Giorgi Sakandelidze at Makhachkala World Cup last year. After the final sirena, he shouted at Giorgi who was lying on the mat. The teams almost started fighting. 6 months before this case, Levan Berianidze won Ligeti over in repechage final of World Championship. He expressed happiness this way. Considering all these cases, there was a danger that Georgian-Hungarian controversy might have occurred.

The preliminary matches were not broadcast on TV or internet and it is difficult to say what happened. According to the official website of International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles, the match between Modzmanashvili and Ligeti lasted 3 sets. Hungarian sportsman won the first set, Georgian – the second one. The decisive 2 minutes ended up 8:7 in the favor of Davit Modzmanashvili but finally, his rival gained victory because he took 2 3 points.

Ligeti won other two matches and made through final. Modzmanashvili had a right to wrestle in repechage semifinal. Davit beat Jose Cuba Vasquez of Spain 6:0, 6:0 and Dimitar Angelov Kumchev of Bulgaria 2:0, 7:0.

Today, champions and prize winners will be found out in 84kg. Davit Marsagishvili will wrestle against Dejan Bogdanov of Macedonia in 1/16. Anzor Urishev of Russia is on the second side of the draw. Their roads will be crossed in final again.

Freestyle wrestling
European Championship
Belgrade
March 8

74kg
1 Denis Tsargush (Russia)
2 Davit Khutsishvili (Georgia)
3 Alexander Gostiev (Azerbaijan)
3 Gabor Hatos (Hungary)

120kg
1 Taha Akgul (Turkey)
2 Daniel Ligeti (Hungary)
3 Davit Modzmanashvili (Georgia)
3 Ihar Dziatko (Belarus)

Otar Maglakelidze