On the third day of European Judo Championship, champions and prize winners were found out in last 5 weight classes. Men judokas of 90, 100 and +100 kg and women judokas of 78 and +78 kg wrested on tatami. Only 3 Georgian judokas from 6 stood on pedestal. Levan Zhorzholiani (100 kg) showed the best result from Georgians.

Zhorzholiani started participation from the second circle. He beat Serbian Predrag Budic by yuko, Montenegrin Nikola Vulevic, French Cyril Maret and Czech Lukas Krpalek. In final, Zhorzholiani could do nothing against Amel Merik.

Irakli Tsirekidze, the most titled member of Georgian team, wrestled in this weight class too. After winning over Russian Sergey Samoylovich and Danish Frederik Joergensen, he lost against Latvian Jevgenijs Borodavko in ¼ final. In repechage final, Tsirekidze beat Jewish Ariel Zeevi, Lukas Krpalek and took the 3^rd place.

Varlam Liparteliani, one of the leaders of Georgian team, won bronze medal too. He lost chance going through final by losing against Russian Kirill Denisov. Denisov beat him by ippon at the 4^th minute. Before this match, Liparteliani won over three opponents. He beat Polish Krzysztof Weglarz, German Christoph Lambert and Swedish Marcus Nyman. In repechage final, Liparteliani beat Slovak Milan Randl. Also, Lasha Guruli wrestled in 90 kg from Georgian team. He lost the first match against Ukrainian Vadym Synyavsky.

Heavyweight Zviad Khanjaliashvili beat Dutch Luuk Verbij, French Matthieu Bataille and Ukrainian Stanislav Bondarenko but lost against Hungarian Barna Bor in semifinal. In repechage final, Khanjaliashvili lost against Polish Janusz Wojnarowicz.

Nodar Metreveli wrested in +100 kg too but he lost the first match against the main favorite French Teddy Riner.

Georgian team of Austrian Peter Seisenbacher ended up European Championship with 2 silver and 2 bronze medals. The team took the 9^th place among 42 participants. On the last day of the championship, champions and prize winners will be found out in team competition.

Judo. European Championship

Istanbul

April 23

Men

90 kg

1 Ilias Iliadis (Greece)

2 Kirill Denisov (Russia)

3 Varlam Liparteliani (Georgia)

3 Marcus Nyman (Sweden)

100 kg

1 Amel Merik (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

2 Levan Zhorzholiani (Georgia)

3 Irakli Tsirekidze (Georgia)

3 Jevgeniks Borodavko (Latvia)

+100 kg

1 Teddy Riner (France)

2 Barna Bor (Hungary)

3 Martin Padar (Estonia)

3 Janusz Wojnarowicz (Poland)

5 Zviad Khanjaliashvili (Georgia)

Women

78 kg

1 Audrey Tcheumeo (France)

2 Lucie Louette (France)

3 Luise Malzahn (Germany)

3 Ana Velensek (Slovenia)

+78 kg

1 Elena Ivashchenko (Russia)

2 Anne Mondiere (France)

2 Tea Donguzashvili (Russia)

3 Lucija Polavder (Slovenia)

Team results. Men
                                            
1 Azerbaijan                        1    1    0    0    1
2 Hungary                          1    1    0    0    0
3 France                             1    0    0    4    0
4 Ukraine                           1    0    0    1    1
5 Bosnia and Herzegovina     1    0    0    0    0
5 Greece                             1    0    0    0    0
5 Portugal                           1    0    0    0    0
8 Russia                             0    2    3    1    1
9 Georgia                    0    2    2    2    0
10 Moldova                        0    1    0    0    0


Otar Maglakelidze