World Stars Converge on Tbilisi Sports Palace

Tbilisi’s traditional international judo tournament gained authority back in Soviet times. There were years when the tournament was called the “unofficial world championship,” but the 2008 tournament was much better than the previous 34 both in terms of the number of participating countries and star athletes. One of the reasons for this success are the upcoming summer Olympic as Beijing license points were distributed at the Tbilisi tournament. Consequently, teams from 41 countries showed up in Tbilisi.
On January 26-27 it was difficult to find a vacant chair on the tribunes of the Tbilisi Sports Palace. This World Cup stirred a true interest in people on one hand because almost all strongest Georgians were to appear on the carpet and on the other hand because people were curious to see world stars compete live. For two days three Olympic, four World and twelve European champions as well as more than 20 prize-winners put on the kimono to fight.
The Georgian team has already gained Olympic license in 5 out of seven weight categories. Now it needed points in the 66 and 81 kg weight classes and the team managed half of this. In the 66 kg class, two-time European champion Zaza Kedelashvili was undefeatable at the world cup and ensured his presence at the Beijing Olympics. As for the 81 kg weight category, head coach of the Georgian team Shota Khabareli will still have to worry about the spring tournaments.
Overall the Georgian team won 3 gold, 1 silver and 3 bronze medals, which was assessed as a successful result. Due to high competition even such wrestlers as Japanese Olympic champion Masato Uchishiba, world champions French Frederick Demonfoko, and Dutch Ruben Hokes and Denis Van Der Gest, as well as up to ten European champions could not gain medal-winning places.
Georgian supporters were greatly anticipating the 90 kg duels, or, to be more precise, the confrontation between Olympic champion Zurab Zviadauri and world champion Irakli Tsirekidze. The long-awaited fight took place in the finals and ended with a victory for Zviadauri in additional time. After almost a one-year pause, the Athens hero became the world cup champion. It is noteworthy that last year Zviadauri went through a serious spinal operation and restarted trainings at the end of 2007. Therefore, no one dared to speak about the gold medal. Shota Khabareli himself admitted that he had not expected such results from Zura and only hoped that the injury would not reoccur.
After the tournament Georgia Today asked the champion for a comment and received an honest and open reply.
Zurab Zviadauri: “I started training only about a month before. To tell the truth, I still avoid a full work load. I need time to reach my optimal state of fitness and that is why I would be contented to take even the bronze medal at the Tbilisi tournament. However, I am more than happy that I managed to make such an impressive return and make my supporters happy. I will try my best not to stop on it and meet upcoming tournaments much better prepared. As for whether I will go to the Olympics or Tsirekidze, coaches will decide.”
The Georgian national team has already earned an Olympic license in the 90 kg weight category. The Beijing standard was fulfilled by Irakli Tsirekidze at the world championship in Rio de Janeiro in September 2007 by winning the gold medal. But so far it has not been announced who will defend the Georgian flag on the Olympic tatami in China.

www.georgiatoday.ge

1.02.2008