Passing The Baton To Georgia

Though they have hosted two European Club Championships in 2015 and 2022, Georgia last hosted the Senior European Judo Championships in 2009 and claimed three medals from Varlam LIPARTELIANI (-90kg), Levan TSIKLAURI (-81kg) and Nestor KHERGIANI (-60kg).

Already in the Podgorica, Georgia have won three medals, a title from the current World Champion, Giorgi SARDALASHVILI (-60kg) and two incredible silver medals from Eteri LIPARTELIANI (-57kg) and Tato GRIGALASHVILI (-81kg) and potentially one more gold from Ilia SULAMANIDZE (-100kg)!

Team Georgia may be eagerly awaiting the final block, but before the medal contests, the official Flag Handover ceremony took place.

With the celebrations in Podgorica coming towards the end, eyes are already shifting towards 2026 and the capital city of Georgia, Tbilisi. As one of their top sports, judo always draws a colossal crowd in the Tbilisi Grand Slam, and we can expect the same in April next year.

Receiving the flag on behalf of the Georgian Judo Federation was the Sport Minister of Georgia, Shalva GOGOLADZE.

It is a great honour for us to be the host country for the prime event. In the last years, Georgia has been a sport hub, hosting many events, so we can be very good hosts for the European Championships in 2026. This event, and all events in Georgia are a proposal, to increase the popularisation of judo, we have a new generation of Bekauri’s and Tushishvili’s, all of our great athletes are all an inspiration to the generation who will come after them, and they will see first hand these champions.

President of the Georgian Judo Federation, Levan NOZADZE, passionately spoke of his joy in hosting the next edition of the European Championships,

We are honoured to host this prime event, we are very grateful to the European Judo Union that we have this honour. It will be a great event, it is the second time that we will have been able to host, the last time in 2009. I believe we have a great country and you are all welcome! I believe that because we have a lot of experience hosting events, such as the Grand Slam in Tbilisi, we will create a great experience and host a great event, I hope we will be 100% ready for it.

I am very grateful that we can have a second gold today, we have more ambitions for next year, the gold medals are always increasing! I think it’s better to come and see what we can do, rather than for me to tell you… so we are waiting for you all in Georgia!

Already, the current European Champion, Sardalashvili, is excited about the prospect of repeating his success,

Next year, I am looking forward to defending my title at home in Tbilisi. Georgia really love judo and this motivates me so much.

Author: Thea Cowen

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