Avtandil Chrikashvili (81kg) won the bronze medal at “Grand Slam” of Tokyo. The Georgian won over American Travis Stevens by ipon in 36 seconds in the repechage final.

Before repechage, the Georgian judoka hold three meetings. He was involved in the competition from the second circle and won over Sveinbyorn Yura of Island by two waza-ari in a minute and 53 seconds. Overcame also Greek Alexios Ntanatsidis by waza-ari. In the semifinal of repechage, Avtandil Chrikashvili won over Srzhan Mravalievic of Montenegro (2:1) with a difference of one shido.

Takanori Nagase, won defeated the Georgian, took the first place.

Ushangi Margiani (81kg) also wrestled on behalf of Georgia, but he lost to Stevens in the 1/8 final. Before this meeting the Georgian won over Kazakh Dauletkhan Zhakipov by waza-ari.

Today the medals were awarded also in 73kg weight category and the champion became Japanese Riki Nakaya, who defeated Pridon Gigani.

Tomorrow the participants in remained three categories will participate – 90, 100 and +100. On behalf of Georgia following wrestlers will wrestle: Varlam Liparteliani (90kg), Aleksandre Mskhaladze (100kg), Levan Matiashvili and Giorgi Zakariadze (both +100kg).

Liparteliani is #1 seeded and will be involved from the 1/8 final. He will face the winner among Japanese Hirotaka Kato and Sweden Zhoakim Dvarby. Mskhaladze will compete with Japanese Takashi Ono. Matiashvili will start from the second circle and he will face Japanese Riu Shishinoe, and for Zakariadze, his opponent will be German Sven Heinle.

Judo

“Grand Slam”

Tokyo

November 30

Men

73 kg

1 Riki Nakaya (Japan)

2 Gui-Man Bang (South Korea)

3 Rok Draksic (Slovenia)

3 Denis Iartcev (Russia)

81 kg

1 Takanori Nagase (Japan)

2 Loic Pietri (France)

3 Avtandil Chrikashvili (Georgia)

3 Takahiro Nakai (Japan)

Otar Maglakelidze