NAME: Luka MAISURADZE
COUNTRY: GEORGIA
CATEGORY: -90KG
WORLD RANKING POINTS: 7101
The Georgian team is consistently producing in all categories, in particular in the -90kg category. There were notorious weight changes for Beka GVINIASHVILI in the run up to the Rio Olympic Games as Varlam LIPARTELIANI was the chosen one, and then for Tokyo, it looked like Gviniashvili would get his chance but was pipped at the post by the eventual Olympic Champion, Lasha BEKAURI.
Now it is the time of Luka MAISURADZE. Though the competition between himself and WRL #2 Bekauri continues with their to and fro wins against each other, Maisuradze finally took his win against his team mate in the World Championships final, an epic win.
Maisuradze took the silver medal in the IJF Masters event in Hungary, in fact losing out to Bekauri and levelling the playing field somewhat, and concluded his year with a tremendous performance in the Tokyo Grand Slam with a second place finish. The race for the Paris Olympic Games will of course continue in to 2024, and in to those final moments.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen