“Historic” is a win we have associated with Team Georgia this week, and we continue on the Mixed Team day of the World Judo Championships 2025 as they have fought their way in to the final against Republic of Korea.
First up was silver medallist of the +100kg category, Guram TUSHISHVILI against LEE Seungyeob (KOR) who was doing a terrific job of defending against the Georgian and even working tactically well. It was clear that Tushishvili was the more exhausted of the two, but he suffered defeat after a huge ashi guruma from Lee.
In the -57kg category it was a head to head between the former and current World Champions; HUH Mimi (KOR) and Eteri LIPARTELIANI (GEO). Liparteliani looked incredibly dominant and executed a huge tani otoshi to score ippon and even the score between the teams.
I am so happy I could win this for my team, and now I go home with two gold medals and making history twice for Georgia!
Both Mikheili BAKHBAKHASHVILI (GEO) and BAE Donghyun (KOR) won in their semi final rounds in great style so there were high expectations for the -73kg round. Then it came for the Georgian athlete, a waza ari scoring sumi gaeshi which he transitioned straight in to the osaekomi.
2-1 to Georgia!
The momentum continued with the Georgian side, as Miriam TCHANTURIA pulled her opponent, LEE Yerang back up from the ground to score with uchi mata. Happening so early in the first minute of course put pressure on Tchanturia but Lee was scrambling to find an answer. Instead, Tchanturia scored another yuko in the last minute, and in the next exchange, found the strength to score yet another waza ari with ura nage after moving around the side.
Only one more win was required to bring the gold medal home to Georgia, and responsible for it was the double Olympic Champion, Lasha BEKAURI who secured their place in the final after defeating the current World Champion, MURAO Sanshiro.
The crowd were on their feet in only 45 seconds, a strong o soto gari executed by Bekauri scoring ippon against KIM Jonghoon.
We are so happy! We have written history with our hearts, and we are the best!
Coach, Lasha GUJEJIANI was so proud of his team and was grateful for the support of his nation,
I am really, really happy, thank you to everyone, to the IJF for this wonderful organisation, Georgia are the World Champions and I want to say thank you to our team, we are the best! This is the Georgian style, we fight, fight, fight!
Georgia’s Vice President, Giorgi ATABEGASHVILI seconded the notion,
We tried for eight years to take this medal, since the Mixed Teams began, we wanted it so badly. So for us it means everything, I wish there were words to describe what I’m feeling, we have real heroes in this team and I want to thank everyone in it and congratulate all the great people for this victory.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen