The opening round of the World Judo Championships Mixed Team bronze medal contest between Germany and Georgia were the +100kg men. Johannes FREY (GER) stepped up to the plate to take on the current World and Olympic silver medallist, Guram TUSHISHVILI (GEO) but was disqualified for head diving. With this first win, he was resigned to the team box to support his team mates and we can argue he has filled the role of Team Captain following the retirement of Varlam LIPARTELIANI. Despite a crowd full of Georgian support, it was his words of wisdom that carried throughout the Mubadala Arena on the final day of competition in Abu Dhabi.
Pauline STARKE (GER) scored first countering an ashi guruma attempt, and Nino LOLADZE (GEO) managed to level the contest with just over a minute to go with o soto gari. Starke was unable to manage the contest and picked up a third shido. Giorgi CHIKHELIDZE was next to keep the momentum going for the Georgian side, his performance today was suggest he was more than capable. A huge o soto gari brought the waza ari score for Chikhelidze, and concluded the contest against Jane RUEBO (GER), holding him for ten seconds.
The deciding point was never going to be easy, the -63kg Eter ASKILASHVILI (GEO) needed to best -70kg 2023 World silver medallist Giovanna SCOCCIMARRO (GER) to make it a 4:0 sweep. Unfortunately for Askilashvili, Scoccimarro pulled out a harai makikomi with one second left on the clock, giving Germany their first win. Just when they thought they could make a comeback, it all came crashing down in the -90kg category. Luka BABUTSIDZE (GEO) and Johann LENZ (GER) were on the tatami for only ten seconds, a tani o toshi attempt from Lenz countered. Then the celebrations could really begin for the two-time World Championships Mixed Team bronze medallists! Babutsidze was a very happy man following the win with the team,
First of all, I am so grateful for the chance to compete in this Georgian team, it felt good to win against the German judoka and be the last point, just a big thank you to everyone who gave me this chance.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen