It’s an imposing start from the hosts but what really stands out – at a time when the evolving Olympic sport is more competitive than ever – is how they resisted the world in the -60kg category to win all four medals available.
-60kg medal podium - Tbilisi Grand Prix 2018 Day 1
Only a handful of nations are capable of such a headline-grabbing feat. They can be recounted on one hand. They are: Mongolia, Japan, Georgia, South Korea.
Georgia accomplished a clean sweep at the 2010 Tbilisi World Cup in the -81kg category. On that day Levan Tsiklauri won gold, Khvicha Khutsishvili took silver and there were bronze medals for David Karbelashvili and Loseb Tselauri.
Today it was the turn of the hosts’ -60kg stars to send four Georgian flags to the rafters.
-60kg Awarding Ceremony
Lukhumi Chkhvimiani reigned supreme with his rival Amiran Papinashvili having to settle for silver as Lasha Chaduneli and Temur Nozadze both contributed bronze medals.
As the nations soaks up the scale of their supremacy and those images are beamed around the world, there is no respite as the powerhouse nation in judo has a league of stars still to feature on day two and three.
You can’t rule out a repeat as the world feels the full force of the Georgian riches with the men’s +100kg category looking like their best chance of keeping another full set of medals in Eastern Europe.
Double sister act in Tbilisi
Two sets of sisters medalled on day one as the Stangar siblings from Slovenia and Germany’s Stoll twins both starred.
Germany and Slovenia are joint third in the medal table with all of their medals won by their young sister acts.
Theresa Stoll soaks up Tbilisi victory
You have to start with Theresa and Amelie Stoll as they are twin sisters and squared off in the -57kg category. Theresa won their quarter-final meeting today before going on to win gold. Theresa has a 5-0 record over her sister who salvaged a bronze medal for a double celebration in the Stoll household and in Tbilisi. Both judoka have been picked for the European Championships and they will be prepared to fight anyone in Israel including each other.
Meanwhile the Stangar family gave Slovenia a 100% medal-winning record in this competition as they are the only representatives for the Balkan nation in Georgia.
Marusa Stangar (above - centre) won the -48kg gold medal with a minor upset win over top seed Milica Nikolic (SRB). Having seen Marusa win gold, it was then the turn of Anja Stangar (SLO) in the -52kg category and the second Slovenian also won by ippon.
Georgia’s Minister of Culture and Sport lauds the Tbilisi Grand Prix 2018
David Kevkhishvili (below - left), Georgian Judo Federation President, said: “Dear spectators, friends, IJF members, it is an honour to welcome you to the Tbilisi Grand Prix 2018. This is a great responsibility for us, thank you IJF President Marius L. Vizer, also special thanks to the Ministry of Culture and Sport for Georgia who have always helped and supported us. Thank you to our spectators who always support Georgian judoka so well.”
Mikheil Giorgadze (above - centre), Minister of Culture and Sport of Georgia, said: “Dear participants of the Tbilisi Grand Prix, honourable guests, members of delegations, representatives from IJF, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the fifth edition of Georgia’s Grand Prix.
“We are hosting this very important event for the fifth time and it is our pleasure to introduce our country to you all. On behalf of the Georgian Government I thank the IJF and President Marius L. Vizer and thank the Georgian Judo Federation.
“Judo is very popular here and has a rich tradition. It is also important for us for Georgian judoka to win the highest honours in judo. Tbilisi Grand Prix 2018 will be a very successful event and I wish you all a fair competition and the best of luck.”
Children display the pride of Georgia during the national anthem
Vladimir Barta (below - right), IJF Head Sport Director, said: “Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, it is a pleasure to be here in Georgia for the fifth edition of the Tbilisi Grand Prix.
“Georgia is a country which has a special place in the judo family as a nation of champions with an extraordinary passion for our sport. I thank the Georgian Judo Federation and their President David Kevkhishvili for their excellent organisation of this competition and their continued efforts to develop judo across the country.
“On behalf of the IJF President Marius L. Vizer I wish good luck to all the competitors and declare the Tbilisi Grand Prix 2018 open.”
Vladimir Barta then presented the IJF Plaque to Tsezar Chocheli, the owner of the Zedazeni company, the main sponsor of Georgian Judo Federation.
Watch day two of #JudoTbilisi2018 live atwww.IJF.org
PROGRAMME
Saturday 31 March
Preliminary rounds - 11:00 (Three tatami)
Final block - 16:00 (One tatami)
Men: -73kg, -81kg
Women: -63kg, -70kg
Sunday 1 April
Preliminary rounds - 11:00 (Three tatami)
Final block - 16:00 (One tatami)
Men: -90kg, -100kg, +100kg
Women: -78kg, +78kg