Georgia stun Russia to win world team title

PARIS, Sept 17, 2006 (AFP) -

Georgia claimed a surprise victory in the men's judo world team championships here on Sunday, beating Russia in the final.  

Favourites Japan had suffered an early loss to hosts France and when Russia defeated the French in the semi-finals, they looked odds-on to take the crown.  

But plucky Georgia had other ideas and, having ousted the talented South Koreans in the semi-finals, they went on to defeat the fancied Russians in the final.  

Coach Shota Khabarelli, a former Olympic champion with the Soviet Union, was delighted with his fighters, who always seem to perform better in team competitions than individual ones.  

"I am over the moon. This feels just as good as when I became Olympic champion," said Khabarelli.  

"After Athens judo became five times more popoular in Georgia (due to the title won by Zurab Zviadauri at -90kg) and now it will be twice as popular again.  

"We have a great tradition in judo and have produced many Olympic medallists.  

"The fighters feel more emotional when they fight for their country. They are prepared to die for each other and there is a great spirit of brotherhood."  

Four years ago, Georgia reached the final but were humiliated 7-0 by Japan.  

"Japan have always been the best but we have always been close behind," added Khabarelli.  

Georgia had a nightmare start to the final - which seen former European champion Nestor Khergiani losing to Ruslan Kishmakhov in the -60kg bout.  

But from there the South Caucasus country took control.  

European -66kg champion Zaza Kedelashvili got the Georgians back on track with a running leg-grab technique to defeat Mikhail Verkholantsev by the maximum ippon score - a technical knock-out.  

David Kevkhishvili won the -73kg bout and then Grigol Mamrikishvili gave Georgia a third straight victory with a surprise win over Olympic bronze medallist Dmitry Nosov at -81kg.  

And when Irakli Tsirekidze edged out another European champion, Ivan Pershin, in the -90kg bout, Georgia took an unassailable 4-1 lead.  

Russia did win the final two contests but that served only to give an air of respectability to the final 4-3 scoreline.  

France dominated Ukraine 6-1 to take bronze while South Korea beat Japan by the narrowest of margins to also take their place on the podium.  

Both teams had two wins apiece with three drawn matches but South Korea won by virtue of their more convincing victories, scoring 17 points to Japan's 13.