For the large crowd, who came out in force from the opening of the Olympic Sports Palace, there was plenty to enjoy. First of all, because the Georgian team featured some of their biggest names: Luka Maisuradze, 2023 world champion and finalist in Paris last February; Ilia Sulamanidze, Olympic runner-up in Paris last year; and Guram Tushishvili, 2018 world champion and Olympic silver medallist in Tokyo in 2021, to name a few.
While the local team was in the spotlight, other renowned athletes made the trip to the Georgian capital. Romane Dicko wanted to demonstrate that, after a well-deserved post-Olympic rest, she planned to assert her supremacy in the category. Inal Tasoev (IJF), last year's world champion, this time on Tushishvili's home turf, was keen to prove that he would be one of the strongest men in the coming years. Honestly, the level of the field today was so high that it's unrealistic to only talk about a few judoka.
That's why, once again, there was only one thing to do at the Tbilisi Grand Slam 2025: sit back, relax and enjoy the show!
Just before the final bloc, European and world champion Lukhumi Chkhvimiani of Georgia, who put an end to his judo career as an athlete, was celegrated by the Georgian Judo Federation and all the judo fans present in the stadium. International and Olympic referee, Vladimir Nutsubidze was also awarded for his career.
At the end of the competition, we were still able to take stock. Georgia achieved its grand slam, both organisationally and athletically. Many countries reached the podium, which is a constant on the World Judo Tour, demonstrating the universality of judo each time. Gradually, we're seeing the crowned and fallen heroes of the last Olympic Games back on the circuit. The page on Paris has been turned and the one on Los Angeles is now firmly open.
During the next two days, the Olympic Sports Palace will welcome the 2025 IBSA Judo World Cup Tbilisi. After the IJF and IBSA signed their Memorandum of Understanding again (CLICK HERE), the co-operation between the two organisations reaches a new level.
April will be dedicated to continental championships: Europe will be in Montenegro, Asia in Thailand, Africa in Ivory Coast, and Pan America and Oceania will compete jointly in Chile. The World Judo Tour will make its grand return at the Dushanbe Grand Slam 2025, from 2nd to 4th May, 2025, in Tajikistan. Until then, continue to follow us on all our platforms and at https://judotv.com/