Georgian freestyle wrestler defends European champion crown
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Georgia’s freestyle wrestler Vladimer Khinchegashvili has been crowned European Champion at the European Senior Wrestling Championships currently being held in Serbia.
Khinchegashvili, who is a Rio 2016 gold medalist and 2015 world champion, has won the continental title for the third time. Previously he was the European champion in 2014 and 2016.
Khinchegashvili, known for his unorthodox counter style of wrestling, defeated world bronze medalist Akhmed Chakaev of Russia late in the first period of their 61kg championship bout at Spens Sport Hall in the Serbian city of Novi Sad yesterday.
"I have lost to Chakaev before so I took revenge now. He is a very strong competitor and it’s never easy to defeat him. I had to do my best to defeat him”, Khinchegashvili said following the fight.
"It doesn’t matter to me if my competitor is Russian, French or American. I respect and approach all my rivals equally”.
Khinchegahsvili defeated a Ukrainian athlete in the semi-final and before that he won over Azerbaijan and Moldovan opponents.
As of today, the Georgian team has one gold and two bronze medals won by Zurab Iakobishvili (65kg) and Elizbar Odikadze (97kg).
Several minutes ago Georgia’s freestyle Wrestler, Vladimer Khinchegashvili, won the country's second gold medal at the Rio Olympic Games, bringing the total medal count to six.
Georgia is celebrating after the country’s best sportsman, wrestler Vladimer Khinchegahsvili, earned another impressive victory at a top international tournament, adding to his vast collection of international titles.
Georgia is celebrating after the country’s best sportsman, wrestler Vladimer Khinchegahsvili, earned another impressive victory at a top international tournament, adding to his vast collection of international titles.
Wrestler Vladimer Khinchegashvili has been crowned Georgia's sportsperson of the year following a season in which the athlete claimed the world wrestling title for Georgia for the first time in eight years.
Wrestler Zurab Datunashvili claimed his second European champion’s title in two years and brought Georgia their second gold medal at the European Senior Wrestling Championships on Sunday.
Georgian Olympic, world and European champion Vladimer Khinchegashvili is the world’s number one wrestler in the 61kg weight category.