The book of Beka Gviniashvili become more beautiful each page

The U100kg promised to be a very interesting category at the Grand Prix in Samsun. The world number one Elmar Gasimov was defeated in his opening match by Georgian Beka Gviniashvili, who is about to succeed in his bet to get qualified to the Games in the U100kg. The 20 year old judoka was Junior World Champion last year in U90kg, but in Georgia this weight class is in the hands of Varlam Liparteliani.

And so Gviniashvili decided to try in the U100kg and apparently, at least today, that worked very well. In the final he faced Rafael Buzacarini, world number 29. Among the other top seeded athletes of the day who were eliminated, were Toma Nikiforov (BEL), Maxim Rakov (KAZ), Henk Grol or Elkhan Mammadov, the 2013 World Champion, the only big names of the category.

The first strong attack came from the Georgian side as Gviniashvili launched in two phases a powerful koshi-waza for a first yuko. In the meanwhile, Buzacarini was penalised two times for passivity. One minute prior to the end, the Georgian was penalised with a first shido for passivity as the content pressure of the Brazilian started to weaken Gviniashvili’s defence. But the young athlete is a rock and despite a long competition day, he secured an important victory here in Samsun that might offer him the ticket to Rio de Janeiro next summer.

The first bronze medal fight saw Cirjenics Miklos (HUN) facing Jorge Fonseca (POR), already bronze medallist last week in Georgia. Due to an injury fonseca could not compete. Same for the second bronze medal fight Where Khutag Tsogtgerel (MGL) picked up bronze as Ivan Remarenco (UAE) could not compete as a result of a tough match against Maxim Rakov.

Beka Gviniashvili is expected among the best athlete at Games time in Rio, this gold medal proves that he is much further in his development than many had thought in this new category.