World champion Georgian judo team arrived in Georgia several hours ago. About 300 people arrived at the Tbilisi airport to meet the champion team. Managers of Ministry of Sport and National Olympic Committee, current and veteran judokas, relatives, friends and fans were among them.

Davit Kevkhishvili, president of Georgian Judo Federation, and head coach Irakli Uznadze brought world championship trophy to the foyer of the airport accompanied by Kvareli children’s folk ensemble performed “Mravalzhamier”.

“I am very happy. Georgia has the best team and proved it many times. The team wrestled brilliantly at Brazilian World Championship. Of course, we could have achieved better result at the individual championship and we lost two finals. I want to thank the judokas and the coaches for their devotion” – Davit Kevkhishvili told “World Sport”.

First we took an interview from gold-silver medal winner of Avtandil Chrikishvili.

- Nobody had such devoted and fighter team like us. Perhaps, it helped us too. Each member of the team played a key role in this victory. I am happy to be a member of this team.

- Perhaps, you were more disappointed after beating Loic Pietri of France at the team championship. You lost to this sportsman at the individual championship…

- Yes, it is true. I could have defeated Pietri in the first fight too. I could have won two gold medals at World Championship.

Varlam Liparteliani:

- You won over Kirill Denisov for the first time in Brazil…

- I have lost to Denisov five times. I learnt the opponent well and I was sure I would beat him that time. I lost the individual championship very easily. At the team championship we were losing 0:2 and I was afraid to take a risk.

- Was the euphoria after beating the Russian in semifinal the reason of losing to Asley Gonzalez of Cuba in final?

- Many asked it in Brazil. It was not because of the euphoria and psychological moment. The Cuban judoka was better tactically prepared than me.  

Irakli Uznadze:

- I congratulate the Georgians on this success. We held a good preparation period and the team showed good result. Of course, we could have achieved better result. I am very disappointed that we could not win gold medal at the individual championship. The lost chance of Avtandil Chrikishvili is the most disappointing.

- What is the reason of unsuccessful wrestling of Lasha Shavdatuashvili?

- Lasha wrestled quite well at the individual championship. Losing extra weight was the main reason of his unsuccessful wrestling at the team championship. He had to lose 7 kg twice in two days. But his presence was additional stimulus for the members of the team.

Zurab Kakhabrishvili:

- I thought that Shavdatuashvili would not wrestle at the team championship because he had to lose extra weight twice in two days but he refused – he wanted to stand by the boys. All members of the team noted that each wrestling of Lasha Shavdatuashvili was an incredible stimulus for them.

- Zebeda Rekhviashvili looked tired at the individual championship. This problem was solved at European Championship this year…

- Zebeda has the polyps problem and must be operated on. If he had been operated on before World Championship, we could not have wrestled in Brazil. Now he will be operated on for sure.

Otar Maglakelidze