Olympic and European champion Lasha Shavdatuashvili (73 kg) won silver medal at Budapest Grand Prix. In the final Shavdatuashvili was beating Victor Scvortov of the United Arab Emirates but he fell down and hurt his leg. Lasha could not even attend the rewarding ceremony. According to Irakli Uznadze, head coach of the team, Shavdatuashvili injured leg.
Before the final Lasha Shavdatuashvili beat four opponents: Rustam Orujov of Azerbaijan, Gyula Pal of Hungary by yuko, Pierre Duprat of France by yuko and Tsagaanbaatar Khashbaatar of Mongolia.
Amiran Papinashvili (60 kg) also wrestled in the final but lost.
Before the final, Papinashvili defeated four rivals: Grzegorz Wieczorek of Poland, Hevorh Hevorhyan of Ukraine, Yerkebulan Kossayev of Kazakhstan and Amartuvshin Dashdavaa of Mongolia.
In the final Papinashvili faced current world champion Naohisa Takato of Japan.
Amiran Papinashvili and Lasha Shavdatuashvili won silver medals and earned 180-180 ranking points. Zebeda Rekhviashvili (73 kg) won bronze and earned 120 points.
In semifinal Rekhviashvili failed to Victor Scvortov of the United Arab Emirates.
Before that, Rekhviashvili won over three opponents: Eetu Laamanen of Finland, Javier Ramirez of Spain and Serhiy Drebot of Ukraine.
In 66 kg Shalva Kardava lost to Georgii Zantaraia of Ukraine. Before that, Kardava beat Vae Tutkhalian of Belarus and Adrien Bourguignon of France by ippon-ippon. In repechage the Georgian defeated Junior Degen of Netherlands but the failed to Nijat Shikhalizada of Azerbaijan. Finally, Kardava took the fifth place and earned 60 ranking points.
Mindia Liluashvili also wrestled in this weight class. He won over Remus Lazea of Romania but then lost to Dzmitry Shershan of Belarus.
Like Liluashvili, Lukhum Chkhvimiani also lost the first stage.
Tomorrow champions and prize winners will be found out in 81, 90, 100 and +100 kg. 6 judokas will wrestle in the name of Georgia: Levan Tsiklauri, Ushangi Margiani (81 kg), Zviad Gogochuri (90 kg), Aleksandre Mskhaladze (100 kg), Adam Okruashvili and Levan Matiashvili (both +100 kg).
Otar Maglakelidze
