Georgian Judoka Wins World Junior Championship

Georgia’s Junior Judoka, Beka Gviniashvili, took 1st place in Judo at the World Junior Championship.

Gviniashvili defeated his Spanish opponent, Nikoloz Sherazadishvili, in the final via ippon, securing the gold in the men’s under 90kg category, at the International Judo Federation World Junior Championships in Abu Dhabi yesterday.

Gviniashvili will no longer be able to compete in the Junior Division after celebrating his 20th birthday today.

“I waved goodbye to everyone because this was my last time to compete as a junior,” Gviniashvili said.

Gviniashvili, who won his final in less than 43 seconds, is currently ranked 5th in the senior standings and won the second biggest senior competition of the year, the World Masters, in May.

Gviniashvili has also won the European Junior Championship 2013 in Sarajevo, the World Junior Championships U21 in 2013 in Ljubljana, and EYOF in 2011.