Georgian Greco-Roman wrestling team won the only medal at the Yadegar Imam Cup (international tournament in Tehran) on January 23-24. The team of Begi Darchia participated with 11 athletes and Marad Abuladze showed better result among them/ he took the 2nd place in the 66kg weight category.
On the way to the final Abuladze beat Iraqi Mohamed Karim Mohamed (8-0), North Korean Von Ree Hak (2:1 6:3) and Japanese Hiaeiuki Otoizumi (8-0). In the fight for the gold he lost to Azerbaijani Azad Aliyev (0:7 0:4). Aliyev defeated a member of the Georgian national team Giorgi Davitaia in the initial round (0:0 6:0).
Irakli Kajaia (98kg) needed just one step to reach pedestal. He lost gold-silver chance in the first round by losing to Iranian Ali Aliarifeizabad (1:3 0:1). In the same weight Mikheil Kajaia and Arsen Kakhabrishvili were involved and faced each other. The meeting ended 2:2 and Kajaia went through the ¼ final, but there he lost to Iranian Abedinzadechdorchi (0:2 0:2).
Ushangi Khalvashi (98kg) and Sergo Gogisvanidze (130kg) completed their participation in the main draw with losing to eventual champion. Khalvashi took the 6th place and Gogisvanidze – the 7th.
Kemal Kharabadze, Ramaz Surmanidze (both 59kg), Ushangi Chitiashvili (75kg) and Shota Gogisvanidze (130kg) participated only once.
Georgian team earned 29 points and occupied the 5th place among 10 teams. Of course, Iran became the champion, which was presented with 57 athletes.
Otar Maglakelidze
