Georgia: The Georgian athletes successfully competed on the fifth day of the Paris Olympics. Ilia Sulamanidze (100 kg) became vice-champion of the Debut Olympics in Judo. He faced the current world champion, Azerbaijani Zeli Kotsev, in the final, gave up the match, and won the first Olympic medal in his career.
The 23-year-old Ilia Sulamanidze defeated Italian Genaro Pirelli with Japan before the final; in the quarterfinals, he beat Olympic champion – Japanese Aaron Wolf with a wizard, and in the semifinals, he won with Swiss Daniel Aich with Japan.
Boxer Lasha Guruli (63.5 kg) continues to fight for the gold medal in her debut Olympics. He beat Kazakh Bazarbai Mohammed Sabir 3:2 in the quarterfinals and won the bronze medal. On August 4, Georgian boxer Kubel Erisland will face Alvarez Borges in the semifinal. Lasha Guruli held the first Olympic match with Azerbaijani Malik Hasanov and defeated the opponent 5:0.
The Georgian Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, Thea Tsulukiani, attended the Georgian athletes competitions.
They remind the public that Georgia has three medals at this stage of the Olympics. Georgia won the first medal on July 30—judoist Tato Grigalashvili won the silver medal, and Lasha Bekauri won the Olympic gold medal for the second time.
Ilia Sulamanidze received the 43rd Olympic medal of independent Georgia today. This is the 14th Olympic silver medal, seven of which were awarded to judoists.
On August 2, two more Georgian judoists—Guram Tushishvili and Sophia Somkhishvili—will join the competition. Trampoline jumper Luba Golovina will try to get a medal at the Olympics. Lika Kharchilava will debut in the Olympics. Legendary bullet shooter Nino Salukvadze will compete in shooting with a sports pistol from 25 meters.
For information, the Georgian government will give 1,000,000 GEL to each Olympic champion, 500,000 GEL to the silver medalist, and 250,000 GEL to the bronze medalist.
