Georgian Greco-Roman wrestling team competed in Baku “Golden Grand Prix” unsuccessfully. In spite of that, Georgian team arrived in Azerbaijan without some leaders, nobody expected such failure. Besides that, the team competed with 3 staffs.

18 Georgian wrestlers from 21 lost the first match. Zurab Macharashvili (55 kg) lost against Azerbaijani Rovshan Bairamov, Lasha Gogitadze (55 kg) – Iranian Mohsen Huseyn Haji Pur, Genadi Kutateladze (55 kg) – Azerbaijani Taleh Mamadov, Sulkhan Tsulukidze (60 kg) – Hungarian Ishtvan Kozak, Gogita Gogiberashvili (60 kg) – Croatian Tonimir Sokol, Irakli Chochua (60 kg) – Iranian Jasem Abas Amir, Mukhran Machutadze (66 kg) – Serbian Aleksandr Maximovic, Marad Abuladze (66 kg) – Iranian Afshin Biabangar, Archil Turmanidze (66 kg) – Iranian Ali Esmael Mohamed, Otar Pevadze (74 kg) – Azerbaijani Rafig Huseynov, Ilia Gulbatashvili (74 kg) – Turkish Emrash Kush, Manuchar Tskhadaia (74 kg) – Russian Bilan Nalgiev, Giorgi Tsirekidze (84 kg) – Beka Rokva, Iakob Kajaia (96 kg) – American Justin Daniel Ruis, Irakli Kajaia (96 kg) – Iranian Babak Gorban, Vasil Imerlishvili (96 kg) – Hungarian Ivan Nemet, Revaz Chelidze (120 kg) – Hungarian Mikhali Dik-Bardosh, Dimitri Javakhishvili (120 kg) – Turkish Riza Kaiaalp.

Macharashvili, Kutateladze, Abuladze, Irakli Kajaia, Javakhishvili and Chelidze competed in bronze final but only Chelidze used this chance – he beat Iranian Bashir Asgar Babajanza and Jewish Vladimir Guralski and became the only Georgian prize winner of “Golden Grand Prix”.

Beka Rokva lost against Iranian Taleb Nariman Nematpur in ¼ final. Then, he competed in repechage but lost against Iranian Davood Aliashraf Akbar. Mate Sopadze (84 kg) celebrated only one victory at the tournament. He lost chance of winning bronze medal against Iranian Alishraf Akhbar. American Dremiel Deshon Biers beat Giorgi Sakandelidze but could not go through the final. Before this loss, Sakandelidze won over Kazakh Iesenkeld Jalgasbaev.

Otar Maglakelidze