Nugzari Tatalashvili climaxes in Olympic battle with Shavdatuashvili

Georgia have another two chances for a gold medal at the Grand Prix in Tbilisi. The final U73kg is between Georgian Nugzari Tatalashvili and Mongolian Odbayar Ganbaatar. But Tatalashvili is a warned man, he lost his previous two bouts against the Mongolian, both in Astana last year at the individual and team event. Another home favourite Lasha Shavdatuashvili lost his semi against Ganbaatar and will now fight Oberwart finallist Marcelo Contini of Brazil, who lost to Tatalashvili in the quarter final.

The final for Tatalashvili is extremely important as he is in a direct battle for Olympic Qualification with Lasha Shavdatuashvili, the 2012 Olynmpic Champion U66kg. Tatalashvili is ranked number five U73kg while Shavdatuashvili is the world's number 11. Shavdatuashvili defeated Contini this year in Dusseldorf but lost him in 2014.

Georgian talent Levan Gugava qualified for the final U81kg. The 20-year old Georgian defeated Roman Moustopoulos (GRE) in the semi final and Bulgarian Ivaylo Ivanov in the pool final. Russian Alan Khubetsov qualified for the final aftert he defeated Uuganbaatar Otgonbaatar (MGL) for fourth time in his career. He never fought Levan Gugava before though. It is Khubetsov who defends last year's title in Tbilisi.

In this category U81kg 48 fighters, an old time record in Tbilisi. Never 48 athletes appeared in one category, the old record in Tbilisi was 40 fighters in 2008 U73kg.

Dutch Olympic hope Kim Polling is back in a final since October 2015 when she won silver in Abu Dhabi. Polling defeated Polish Katarzyna Klys. In the category U70kg French Fanny Estelle Posvite overcame Naranjargal Tsend-Ayush in the semi final. Posvite defeated Polling last time at the World Championships in Astana after two wins for Polling in 2013.

Shocking was the knee injury for Linda Bolder (ISR) in her match against Szabina Gercsak HUN). Bolder missed out a year of judo after a knee injury in February 2014, let’s hope this time the damage is limited 134 days for the Olympic Games.

Great Britain celebrated a strong comeback of Gemma Howell. For the first time since 2 years Howell is back on the World Tour podium after defeating Edwige Gwend in the semi. Howell also beat Anicka Van Emden (NED) in the quarter final. In the final she will meet Kathrin Unterwurzacher, also back from an injury since November last year and for the first time in a final since a year, the World Masters in Rabat was her last final. Unterwurzacher defeated Marielle Pruvost in a close semi final. Howell and Unterwurzacher never fought before.