Georgia wins fourth gold with heavyweight Saba Inaneishvili

The last category of the Junior World Championships in Olbia and of the individual tournament saw two countries already with at least a gold medal each, facing off for the ultimate title. In fact, before the beginning of the day, Georgia, represented by Saba Inaneishvili, was pointing at the second place in the nation ranking, with two gold medals already, with Hungary, represented by the current European Champion, Richard Sipocz, sitting with one, so far.

The final was a tactical match between the strongest men of the day and they needed the golden score period to determine the winner. During normal time, only shido had been given and none of the attacks, from either side, seemed to be dangerous, until Saba Inaneishvili jumped into a tiny space to score a waza-ari and add a fourth gold medal for Georgia. Georgia finished at the first place in the medal ranking.

Saba Inaneishvili said, "Of course I wanted to win but you know, my mother came to see me and it is the first time we have seen each other for five years. I won for me and for her.

In the final, my plan was to wait and stay away from him until he became tired and then to push very hard. Mission accomplished! It is the happiest day of my life."

As for the final of the -100kg, both Georgia with Irakli Demetrashvili and Uzbekistan with Shokhrukh Mamarasulov, qualified for a medal match but this time only one could step on the podium with the bronze. Mamarasulov took a strong lead with a maki-komi for waza-ari but then Demetrashvili produced one of the most powerful throws of the week. After engaging with o-uchi-gari, he concluded with a massive ko-soto-gari that landed Mamarasulov flat on his back for ippon and a new medal for Georgia.

Germany secured a medal, with both Yvo Witassek and Losseni Kone qualified for the second bronze medal contest. It is always difficult to score against a teammate when you know exactly and perfectly what he's doing. Witassek produced a powerful o-soto-gari that Kone desperately tried to counterattack but it was not enough and the first waza-ari initially given was turned into ippon and the bronze medal for Witassek.