Varlam Liparteliani still hungry for judo gold

In a recent interview with JudoInside European Champion and Paris winner Peter Paltchik (ISR) said some warm words about Varlam Liparteliani. The warrior from Georgia can never be wiped out for a top position. Paltchik: “He's my childhood hero and now, a good friend. I really appreciate his judo. Our battles are very passionate and I love that.” In Doha again proved to be among the world’s best athletes U100kg.

Top seed Peter Paltchik (ISR) had a really good start, facing the Olympic silver medallist, Elmar Gasimov (AZE), in the first round and defeating him after a long golden score. With this positive momentum, Paltchik continued to win until the semifinal, where he faced Varlam Liparteliani (GEO), who's experience prevailed, to send the Georgian to the final.

With Gasimov being out, it was the second Azeri athlete, Zelym Kotsoiev, who qualified for the final against Liparteliani. After only nineteen seconds Liparteliani, who is most well-known for his uchi-mata, scored a waza-ari with a dropping seoi-nage, to take the lead. For the rest of the final Liparteliani carefully escaped from all Kotsoiev's attempts to come back. The Georgian enjoyed winning his third title at the Masters and again rises into the list of favourites for the Olympic title this summer. Let's not forget him.

The first bronze medal contest saw Arman Adamian (RUS) and Simeon Catharina (NED) competing for the prize, but also for important points on the World Ranking List and the Olympic qualification. With less than one minute remaining and after a very tight match, Adamian executed an almost perfect waza-ari, immediately followed by an immobilisation for ippon.

In the second bronze medal contest the current world champion Jorge Fonseca of Portugal was stood against the recent European Champion Peter Paltchik (ISR). This could have been a final for sure, based on the level of both competitors and they gave all they had left after a full day of competition. What is extraordinary is the explosivity of Fonseca on one side, who even if he looks totally exhausted is capable of launching a blitz attack with a fraction of a second. On the other side was Paltchik, a man who seems to be capable of escaping from any situation and has also a strong capacity to attack in all directions. At the end of the match, it was Peter Paltchik who won after Fonseca was penalised three times.