On March 29-30, Georgian freestyle wrestling team competed in European Championship without winning gold medal. The team of Zaza Turmanidze won 2 silver and 1 bronze medals. Young wrestlers showed themselves. Turmanidze talked to “World Sport” about European Championship and the future plans of the team.

- How do you estimate competition of the team in Dortmund?

- They wrestled well and I want to thank them once again. I wanted to see that boys can achieve the best result. They can do even more and we should achieve our goal together.

- If it is not a secret, what did you expect from this tournament?

- We have a good new generation and I believed that they could fight for medals but I did not expect such good results. For example, I did not think that Davit Marsagishvili (84 kg) would go through the final but he turned out to be one of the main favorites of European Championship.

- Please, estimate competition of each 7 wrestlers…

- Vladimir Khinchegashvili (55 kg) had to become champion. He could not keep 2-point advantage till the last seconds of the first period. In the second period referees made mistake and Lado lost. Malkhaz Zarkua (60 kg) was finalist of last European Championship but he could not wrestle well this time. He could not participate in last training because of illness. Koba Kakaladze (66 kg) could not estimate his opponent and was punished. Davit Khutsishvili (74 kg) is a perspective young wrestler. I think bronze medal is not a bad start. Marsagishvili wrestled brilliantly. He beat all opponents but lost in the final. Beldukh Gavashelishvili wrestled in 96 kg. He had to make painkiller injection because of injury. He did not have strength for ¼ final. Heavyweight Davit Modzmanashvili wrestled well. He beat one of the favorites Russian Bakhtiar Akhmedov but then unexpectedly he lost against Azerbaijani Jamaladin Magomedov. It seems that he needs time to return his form.

- Khinchegashvili and Marsagishvili have right to compete in youth tournaments this year. Will you be against if they participate in European and world age tournaments?

- I cannot say anything now. Coaches will make joint decision about this issue.

- When will you start preparation for World Championship?

- We have already forgotten about European Championship and now we are thinking about World Championship. We will start preparation as soon as Vakhtang Balavadze Tbilisi International Tournament ends up in summer.

- Will Otar Tushishvili and Giorgi Gogshelidze join you?

- Of course. Gogshelidze was operated on and he will start training soon.

- We found out that Revaz Mindorashvili wants to return to the national team…

- Rezo had some problems but now he is training. We know that he can return his old form easily.

Otar Maglakelidze