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The performance of Georgia’s superstar Lasha SHAVDATUSHAVILI was a huge reason to celebrate on day two of the Tbilisi Grand Slam. As the first Georgian to achieve European, World and Olympic Champion titles, he is of course held in high regard, and carries the pressures that naturally comes with those accolades.
In 2012, the year he became Olympic Champion in the -66kg category, the then-20 year old also claimed the gold medal in Tbilisi when it still had World Cup status, alongside his now retired team mates; Varlam LIPARTELIANI, Avtandili TCHRIKISHVILI and Adam OKRUASHVILI, the first two were sitting front row today to watch their team. Not only was there a line up of Georgian judo royalty, but they were joined by World and European Champion, Loretta CUSACK-DOYLE and Olympic and World bronze medallist, Kerrith BROWN of Great Britain. Rounding up a star-studded crowd was former opponent of Shavdatuashvili, ONO Shohei (JPN).
It was an incredible gold at that, demonstrating exactly why he is one of the leading athletes in the -73kg category, despite being one of more senior, it was talent and experience that won out, with a stunning sasae tsurikomi ashi against Joan-Benjamin GABA (FRA) after over 10 minutes of golden score, and then in the final, another nifty piece of ashi waza, okuri ashi barai, sealed the deal against Armen AGAIN (IJF). The crowd were on their feet! Shavdatuashvili now lays claim to two bronze, a silver and title in the Tbilisi Grand Prix and now two bronze medals and three titles in the Tbilisi Grand Slam, today defending his 2024 win.
Medals also went to Zaur DVALASHVILI and Irakli BEROSHVILI for Georgia, this time in the -81kg category. Finishing in the number one position however was Vedat ALBAYRAK, and though he is a long-time representative of Türkiye, his blood right is Georgian, and the crowd gave him equal support in his final against Petru PELIVAN (MDA).
This was a tough call, Pelican putting the first yuko on the board, but Albayrak was able to trump that with a waza ari score, countering a sasae attempt by Pelivan. The Moldovan athlete did not give up though, and managed to put another yuko on the board, but it wasn’t enough to pass Albayrak who went off to cheer with his son. Following the medal ceremony he spoke how this was a historic moment for him, as it would have been for his father, 1996 European Champion and world medallist, Giorgi REVAZISHVILI, to see his son win his first European title in Lisbon, 2021.
In the -63kg category, it was French success from Manon DEKETER (silver) and Clarisse AGBEGNENOU (bronze) to represent Europe, but in another incredible run, OZBAS Szofi (HUN) stole the limelight in the -70kg category by taking yet another gold Grand Slam medal.
It was certainly a tough line up with World and Olympic medallists peppered, but she managed to defeat the top seed and 2022 World silver medallist, Lara CVJETKO (CRO) in the quarter, then moving on to the 2023 World silver medallist, Giovanna SCOCCIMARRO (GER) in the semi final, tying her up in ne waza to secure the winning osaekomi. Finally, she battled Olympic bronze medallist, Sanne VAN DIJKE (NED) for the gold medal, and after attacking left with drop seoi nage, Van Dijke began falling to the opposite side, Ozbas regained control to the right to throw for waza ari in the closing seconds. It’s safe to say she will be pleased with her decision to move up in to this category.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen