It will not come as any surprise that Georgia’s victories came in the men’s categories (-73kg and -81kg) and France’s triumphs were thanks to their women (-63kg and -70kg).
Georgian icon Lasha SHAVDATUASHVILI (above) topped the -73kg category with wins over Arsen GHAZARYAN (ARM), Giovanni ESPOSITO (ITA), Nils STUMP (SUI), Sam VAN T WESTENDE (NED) and Phridon GIGANI (GEO). It is only fair to say that SHAVDATUASHVILI has encountered tougher days against household names on the major stages in the sport but his five opponents provided a stellar test as they all raised their game as they looked to upset the local hero.
-81kg Quarter-Final: Kirakozashvili (GEO) throws Semenov (RUS) for ippon
Former Junior World Championships silver medallist Tamazi KIRAKOZASHVILI (GEO) made his full IJF World Judo Tour debut last year and home comforts were the difference today as he recorded his maiden win on the international circuit. The 21-year-old defeated Joshgun ABDULLAYEV (AZE), Jack HATTON (USA), Stanislav SEMENOV (RUS), Nugzari TATALASHVILI (GEO) and Anri EGUTIDZE (POR).
The Georgian public have been in great voice at the Tbilisi Grand Prix 2018
France’s world champion Clarisse AGBEGNENOU (below - left) claimed her eighth Grand Prix victory to double France’s gold medal tally in Tbilisi. The Olympic silver medallist defeated Geke VAN DEN BERG (NED), Yanka PASCOALINO (BRA), Inbal SHEMESH (ISR) and Karolina TALACH (POL). It was a very worthwhile workout for AGBEGNENOU who not only faced several new faces on the tour but also experienced the winning feeling before looking to regain the European title next month which has eluded her since 2014.
Former Abu Dhabi Grand Slam winner Marie Eve GAHIE (FRA) handed her country their second gold medal on day two and third overall as she followed the lead of AGBEGNENOU. GAHIE, 21, who has long been mooted as the successor to all-time -70kg great and now French coach Lucie DÉCOSSE, beat Megan FLETCHER (IRL), Bruna SILVA (BRA), Szaundra DIEDRICH (GER) and Kelita ZUPANCIC (CAN).
Teenage girl breaks Georgian record
Georgian go-getter Mariam TCHANTURIA was one of the biggest winners of the day and that was without being a gold medallist. The 17-year-old won -70kg bronze after a gargantuan effort that saw her become the heroine of the Georgian faithful.
TCHANTURIA is now the youngest Georgian medallist on the IJF World Judo Tour ahead of Beka GVINIASHVILI (18) and that is an incredible accolade for a young Georgian woman to achieve.
Teen wonder TCHANTURIA (below - fari right) won the European Youth Olympic Festival last year along with bronze at the Junior World Championships and has been fast-tracked to the senior setup as arguably her country’s strongest female prospect.
The Grand Prix hosts have energetically looked to level up the world-renowned success of their men’s team with a women’s roster and step-by-step they are making serious in-roads.
TCHANTURIA is at the forefront of their women’s programme and still has time to mature on the senior stage before being called upon for the biggest competitions in the sport.
The Mixed Team Competition will make its Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and that area will be a race against time for Georgian’s who will need three high level women to link-up with a men’s trio.
The immediate future for Georgia is that young girls watching the competition today will be inspired by the heroic efforts of TCHANTURIA and the prospects for their women’s programme has never looked brighter.
Watch the last day of #JudoTbilisi2018 live at www.IJF.org on Sunday
PROGRAMME
Sunday 1 April
Preliminary rounds - 11:00 (Three tatami)
Final block - 16:00 (One tatami)
Men: -90kg, -100kg, +100kg
Women: -78kg, +78kg