Following the weight change of the double world champion, Nikoloz SHERAZADISHVILI from -90kg where he found his great success, and in to the -100kg category, he left a chasm for the Spanish Federation. Incredibly, it has turned out to be yet another Georgian-Spaniard, the underdog in Astana, Tristani MOSAKHLISHVILI.
His results are short story, a gold medal win last year in the Madrid European Open and bronze in the Mediterranean Games. This is certainly not due a lack of trying, he has been in an IJF World Tour final block prior, competing against the current Olympic champion, Lasha BEKAURI (GEO) in the Tashkent World Championships for the bronze medal, defeating the likes of Krisztian TOTH on his way to the bronze medal match.
Today however, it was a different wind that guided him and he was blasting through the rounds to achieve his career best result. Once he defeated Olympic Mixed Team champion Axel CLERGET (FRA) in the semi final, double up on maki komi attacks, he moved in to the final for a second serving of French talent. Maxime-Gael NGAYAP HAMBOU was not so easy to defeat however. Within the final minute, the French athlete attempted a sumi gaeshi and Mosakhlishvili capitalised and secured osae komi for his first ever IJF World Tour medal, a Grand Slam gold.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen