Beka Gviniashvili prepared for the miracle of Tbilisi

Beka Gviniashvili won the Grand Prix of Tbilisi last year U90kg in an exciting final against Varlam Liparteliani. This year Gviniashvili will take part U100kg in an ultimate stunt to qualify in a short time in his new category. In Tbilisi Gviniashvili is matched to Viktor Demyanenko (KAZ) in his first match. The unseeded Gviniashvili will face the strong Adlan Bisultanov of Russia in the second round. They never fought before.

Also in the pool is Portuguese Jorge Fonseca. In the other pool Michael Korrel (NED), Martin Pacek (SWE) and Grigori Minaskin (EST) as challengers for the semi final.

Supported by the knowledgeable homecrowd ‘Beka’ will aim to win his third consecutive event.  World Judo Masters winner Beka Gviniashvili, 20, has reignited his Rio 2016 Olympic dream at his new weight by winning two Pan American Open’s in March. Gviniashvili won gold in Lima, Peru and Buenos Aires, Argentina as he beat Grigori Minaskin (EST) in both finals by ippon.

A Continental Open victory is worth 100 ranking points and the back-to-back results have lifted the Georgian up to 39th on the Olympic qualification list with the European Championships, Grand Prix and a Grand Slam still to come before the World Judo Masters in May.

Gviniashvili will compete on the last day of the Tbilisi Grand Prix in his home event and while the level of opposition will be a sterner challenge, he will be buoyed by a vociferous home crowd as he aims to win his first Grand Prix medal at U100kg.

This time around the youngster will line up opposite judoka such as fellow reigning World Judo Masters winner Elmar Gasimov (AZE), former European bronze medallist Adlan Bisultanov (RUS), former world champion Luciano Correa (BRA) and Baku Grand Slam bronze medallist Jorge Fonseca (POR).

A gold medal is worth 300 points at an IJF Grand Prix and the U100kg variety this Sunday would be the most precious of Gviniashvili’s young career.