International judo federation has published new world ranking after summarizing World Cup Men Tbilisi on its official web-site. Georgian tournament did not change anything among top ten, because they did not participate in this following tournament. But Georgian sportsmen have quite good progress in their ranking.
Amiran Papinashvili (60 kg) is again the best ranking owner among Georgian judokas. He is in the top ten of his weight category. But this time nothing was changed for him in new ranking, because he missed World Cup Tbilisi. Betkil Shukvani gained 100 points as a result of becoming champion in the lightest weight category and advanced with three positions (20th). According to his points he satisfies license norms.
Shalva Kardava (66 kg) has regress with 13 places, now he is in the 55th place. So, 66 kg weight category still remains problem for Georgian national team. The only pleasant news is Lasha Shavdatuashvili’s big advance. European champion as a result of gaining 100 points advanced with 66 places among young judokas.
Situation is not good in 73kg weigh category, but the results of Tbilisi tournament has changes situation to better. Now Nugzar Tatalashvili is in the 27th place instead of 31th, Avtandil Chrikashvili (81 kg) advanced with five positions, Varlam Liparteliani (90 kg) with two, Zviad Khanjaleishvili (+100 kg) – 2 and Adam Okruashvili (+100 kg) advanced with 7 positions.
As a result of gaining points at Tbilisi World Cup these following Georgian sportsmen appeared in world ranking: Zebeda Rekhviashvili (73 kg), Beka Gviniashvili (81 kg), Soso Mskhaladze, Irakli Koblianidze (both of them 100 kg) and Levan Matiashvili (+100 kg). It is remarkable that Mskhaladze used to compete with old passport as Aleksandre and now he keeps two different places in ranking. In other case he would be in the 7-8th ahead.
Upcoming tournaments:
4-5 February – Paris Grand Prix
11-12 February – Oberwart World Cup
18-19 February – Dusseldorf Grand Prix
25-26 February – Prague World Cup
26-28 April – European Championship
Champion-prize winner of Grand Prix gains 200, 120 and 80 points. Gold medal winner of World Cup earns 100 points, silver – 60 and bronze- 40 points. Champions and prize winners of European championship gain 180, 108 and 72 points.
Otar Maglakelidze
