Nestor Khergiani won first medal for Georgian team

Nestor Khergiani, (-60kg), won the bronze medal for Georgia, on the first day of European championships in Tbilisi. Khergiani is most experienced member of the Georgian national team, which currently participates in tournament.

Georgian judoka lost in semi-final against 21 years old Ukrainian Giorgi Zantaraya and had to fight for the bronze medal with world champion Ruben Houkes, from Netherlands. Thus, Khergiani took a revenge for loosing to Houkes in final of world championship.

Khergiani also defeated German Robert Kopiske in second round and Austrian Ludwig Peischer with ippon who always was uncomfortable opponent for Georgian.

In the final match, Georgian born Ukrainian, Giorgi Zantaraya had very strong support from the cheering crowd in Tbilisi Sports Palace, but it did not help him that much against Russian Arsen Galstyan, who won the gold medal.

In 66 kg weight category, Georgian Mindia Khomizuri was able to go through Romanian Dan Gheorge Fasie in the first round, but than lost to Tomasz Kowalski from Poland in the second. Kowalski was able rich the final but there he was stoped by Hungarian Miklos Ungvari, who won the gold in this category.

Geo Judo Federation Press-center