Adam Okruashvili pleases home crowd with ecstatic gold in Tbilisi

The last final of the Grand Prix in Tbilisi sounded like fireworks for the organisers and the public as local hero and Judo World Master in Tyumen 2013, Adam Okruashvili, stepped on the mat. Stanislav Bondarenko (UKR) was the second athlete qualified for the final after he defeated the second Georgian Levani Matiashvili (GEO).

After one minute and thirty seconds, Bondarenko was in danger as he was already penalised two times. Like two titans, Bondarenko and Okruashvili launched a simultaneous attack. Who would be able to resist to the fantastic pressure? Supported by his public, which came in numbers for this last day of competition and this very last fight, Adam Okruashvili produced a tremendous effort to turn over his opponent only with his arm force for a waza-ari.

The public exploded with joy, but a few second later the explosion was even bigger, as the Georgian caught Bondarenko with an osae-komi-waza for ippon. For the last time of the weekend the Georgian anthem could echo in the New Sports Arena in Tbilisi.

Before that ultimate match, the massive Georgian eliminated David Moura (BRA) in the semi-final. With one waza-ari on his side, the Brazilian seemed to perfectly control the bout, but in judo everything can change until the very last second. Okruashvili, strongly supported by his public did not forget that and caught Moura with an immobilisation at the very last second. Coming back, the Georgian, even if he was totally exhausted, could have a big smile and get ready for the final.

The first bronze medal fight was 100% Georgian as Guga Kibordzalidze faced his teammate Levani Matiashvili to guarantee a second medal for the hosts in that men’s heavyweight category on the final day. Levani Matiashvili won his eighth medal on a Grand Prix, after Kibordzalidze was disqualified for three successive penalties.

The second bronze medal fight opposed Anton Brachev (RUS) and David Moura (BRA). The same scenario applied in this bronze medal contest as Anton Brachev was penalised three times for hansokumake. David Moura could enjoy his 12th medal on the occasion of a World Judo Tour event.