Georgia’s Zebeda Rekhviashvili scoops European judo gold

Georgia’s Zebeda Rekhviashvili finished the European Judo Open Championship in Minsk, Belarus on a high after taking four match wins and the gold medal over the weekend.

Defeating Canada’s Etienne Briand in the final, the 27 year-old took the Under 81 kg weight category title in the capital city on day 2.

Rekhviashvili claimed four match wins with ippon at the competition, starting with his defeat of Estonia’s Aslanbeg Magomedkerimov at the pool stage.

The Georgian judoka photographed in action at the Minsk competition. Photo: European Judo Union/Anna Zelonija.

Progressing to the next stage, the Georgian came out on top against Dmitrii Iartcev of Russia and followed it up with the quarterfinal round victory over Armenia’s Davit Sargsyan.

His semifinal adversary was Russia’s Irakli Baramiya, who became another contestant relegated by an ippon from Rekhviashvili.

The results set the Georgian up for the final against Briand, where the Georgian only took just over a minute to score his final ippon and take the crown.

Rekhviashvili is a medal-winner of judo tournaments in individual and team competitions. His haul includes a bronze at the Grand Slam in Ekaterinburg, Russia earlier this year and a silver in Paris last year.

The European Judo Open Championship in Minsk ran between August 18-19.