Following the incredible performance of the Georgian Judo team in the 2025 World Judo Championships, the athletes, coaches and committee were addressed by the President of Georgia, Mikheil KAVELASHVILI.
I awarded the members of the National Judo Team and the heads of the Judo Federation with the Order of Queen Tamar, Orders of Honour and Medals of Honour, upon the nomination of Prime Minister Irakli KOBAKHIDZE and Parliament Speaker Shalva PAPUASHVILI.
We all expected this day to come and Georgia would become the World and European Champions in team competitions. The achieved victory is the result of hard work, purposeful dedication and unity.
I presented the State Award, the Order of Queen Tamar, to World Champion judoka Eteri LIPARTELIANI, the State Award, the Order of Honour, to Vice-President of the Judo Federation Giorgi ATABEGASHVILI and nine members of the National Judo Team, and finally the State Award and the Medal of Honour, to President of the Judo Federation Levan NOZADZE and six members of the National Judo Team.
Now Vice President, and former President, Atabegashvili spoke with great pride immediately following the win in Budapest, Hungary, as the team celebrated their victory, and after receiving this great honour at home in Georgia,
‘The Order of Honour’ — these words cut through the everyday noise like a sword and remind us that some deeds and struggles remain beyond time. Receiving this order is just an honour that belongs not to one person, but to the entire nation.
First of all, I congratulate the fighting team of the Georgian Judo Federation and our worthy athletes — we gain more in the struggle than gold medals. We strengthen the faith of the country and establish a path for new generations where the impossible no longer exists.
I express my special gratitude to the President of Georgia, the Prime Minister and the Chairman of the Parliament — this recognition extends to each of us. This order belongs to all those people who have believed in the power of labour, discipline and the common cause.
Thank you to our great people. Victory does not belong to the winner alone — it is the lot of those great people who never give up. Glory to our unity — in this unity lies the strength of the country, the silent prayer of our ancestors in our veins. Glory to unity, glory to the Georgian heart — and glory to Georgia!
In addition to the gold medal in the Mixed Team event, Liparteliani also made history by becoming the first ever female World Champion from Georgia, and not only that, but the men’s side added two silver medals from Tato GRIGALASHVILI and Guram TUSHISHVILI, as well as a bronze from Luka MAISURADZE.
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen