Judo wrestler Aleksi Davitashvili claims third straight European veterans title
The Georgian judoka photographed second from left among podium-finishers. Photo: International Judo Federation.
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Georgian judoka Aleksi Davitashvili, a record nine-time holder of the country’s top wrestler title, triumphed with a third straight title at the World Veterans Judo Championship on Thursday.
Davitashvili, 44, took the crown after defeating Poland’s Marek Glodek in the final in Cancun, Mexico.
See Aleksi Davitashvili in action at the World Veterans Judo Championship in Cancun:
The Georgian was one of nine wrestlers from the country competing among nearly 800 male and female athletes from 45 countries at the ongoing tournament.
Participants are split into ten age groups and face each other in fixtures between October 17-21.
Davitashvili claimed his first European medal in 1994, at the age of 20.
He claimed two more bronzes in 2000 and 2001, while also competing at the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney.
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.
Georgian athletes locked out the podium in 81kg category at the European Juniors Judo Cup in St. Petersburg, Russia, as the team claimed four medals in total at the tournament.
Georgian wrestlers scored four medals at the European Judo Open competition among men in the Austrian town of Oberwart where they competed against athletes from around the world over the weekend. With twenty competitors taking part in the event for Georgia, four of the team's members claimed two gold, one silver and one bronze medal.