Georgian servicemembers claim 23 medals at US Air Force Trials for injured troops
The 13-member team featured in the Trials for the first time and was involved in wheelchair basketball, shooting, track & field, indoor rowing and archery in the competition, facing counterparts from the US and the United Kingdom. Photo: The Georgian Defence Ministry.
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The Georgian team has returned home from the United States Air Force Trials with 23 medals under their belt after marking a successful appearance at the international competition for injured servicemembers.
Returning to Georgia on Tuesday with 11 gold, eight silver and four bronze medals, the athletes of the Georgian team were welcomed by Brigadier General Joni Tatunashvili, the Deputy Chief of the Georgian Defence Forces, and Sergeant Giorgi Gogochuri of the Georgian Defence Forces.
The 13-member team featured in the Trials for the first time and was involved in wheelchair basketball, shooting, track & field, indoor rowing and archery in the competition, facing counterparts from the US and the United Kingdom.
The Ministry said the Georgian team had undergone “intensive” preparations for the contest, which was hosted at the Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas between February 24-March 3.
The Trials were hosted under the USAF’s Air Force Wounded programme, with the Georgian Ministry noting the competition was intended to “raise combat spirit and motivation” of injured servicemembers and support their rehabilitation through sports.
Another GDF team is taking part in the Marine Corps Trials for wounded and injured marines, sailors and veterans, with the contest starting on February 28 and set to run through March 11 in California.
The Georgian team has claimed a gold medal in sitting volleyball at the United States Air Force Trials - a Paralympic-style competitive event for injured servicemembers running in Las Vegas.
A 13-member team of injured Georgian servicemembers will feature in the Air Force Trials - a Paralympic-style competitive event starting this month in the United States - for the first time, the Ministry of Defence said on Monday.
Georgian corporal Temur Dadiani, who lost both his legs in a mine explosion in Afghanistan in 2011, won a gold medal at the world armwrestling championships in Istanbul, the Georgian defence ministry said on Tuesday.
The Georgian military servicemembers finished the Invictus Games in the Hague with a record number of medals in the country’s eight-year competition history. This was another successful appearance at the international competition for injured former service personnel of Georgian armed forces in April 2022. Established by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex in 2014, the games aim to recognise and support the achievements of service members who have suffered "life-changing injuries, both visible and invisible, while serving their countries." Speaking at the launch of the first venue in 2014, the Prince said that the Games would "demonstrate the power of sport to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and demonstrate life beyond disability.
The Georgian team returned from the United States Marine Corps Trials, an international competition for injured servicemembers, on Tuesday with 22 medals under their belt.
Georgian corporal and para athlete Temur Dadiani, who lost both his legs in a mine explosion in Afghanistan in 2011, claimed a gold medal at the 2023 World Para Powerlifting World Cup in Tbilisi.
A six-member team of the Georgian Defence Forces claimed three gold, one silver and two bronze medals at Cateran Yomp, a 24-hour charity walk involving injured troops from around the world in Scotland, the country’s Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.
Georgian judoka Giorgi Kaldani on Tuesday became the winner of the European Para Championships in Rotterdam on the first day of the championship.