This weekend Sofia will host the first international individual tournament of the 2014 season – “European Open”. The Georgian judokas will participate in this tournament.

In the past years the season always started with the Tbilisi and Sofia tournaments. Women wrestled in Bulgaria and men – in Georgia.

Several months ago the International Judo Federation named the Tbilisi tournament Grand Prix and it will be held in March. So, the men will also wrestle in Sofia.

“European Open” was not in the plans of the Georgian Judo Federation but some sportsmen departed for Bulgaria with the help of sponsors.

Shorena Sharadze (63 kg) and Irine Leonidze (+78 kg) will wrestle at the women’s tournament, Giorgi Gugulashvili, Kakha Tsagareli (both 66 kg), Archil Gogolashvili (90 kg) and Mikheil Narimanidze (100 kg) – at the men’s tournament.

Otar Maglakelidze