Georgia secures unprecedented victory in the Mixed Team World Championship, culminating in an emotional concluding day in Budapest.
🥋 Georgia books a historic Mixed Team gold! 🇦🇲
It's all about heart, spirit, and teamwork as Georgia snatches the Mixed Team gold medal in a nail-biting final at the 2025 World Judo Championships in Budapest - their very first triumph in this category!
Let the emotions flow and the air thicken with adrenaline as judokas from around the globe fight not just for themselves, but for their team! This was beyond a gold medal, it was about camaraderie and the values deeply rooted in the world of judo.
It all started in the semi-finals, where Japan went head-to-head against powerhouse Georgia. The contest was intense, with Japan leading early on. But the relentless spirit of the Georgian team began to shine through. The impressive heavyweight Guram TUSHISHVILI swung the scoreboard with mighty throws, while freshly crowned World Champion Eteri LIPARTELIANI added to the momentum. Mikheili BAKHBAKHASHVILI clinched the deal with another winning ippon.
Utana TERADA tried hard for a comeback for Japan but it was not meant to be. In an eerie sense of déjà vu, the Olympic final was replayed with Lasha BEKAURI claiming victory over his opponent with a commanding style, pushing the Georgian team into the World final.
The Republic of Korea also displayed an impressive performance in their semi-final against Germany, triumphing 4 - 0. Their technique was sharp, their spirit unyielding, and they left no room for doubt as they cemented their place in the final.
The highly anticipated final saw The Republic of Korea vs Georgia battling tooth and nail for the gold medal - who would make history?
The Republic of Korea took the early lead with an ippon from LEE. However, homing in on her World Championship win, Eteri LIPARTELIANI evened the score. BAKHBAKHASHVILI came up trumps next, followed by TCHANTURIA winning for the Georgian team.
In the end, it all boiled down to double Olympic Champion Lasha BEKAURI to seal the deal. With the weight of the world on his shoulders, he snatched the gold medal for Georgia, etching a new chapter in the annals of World Judo history.
IJF President Mr Marius VIZER presented the coveted gold trophy, IOC Member Mrs Filomena FORTES put gold medals around the necks of the victorious Georgian team, and Mr Max-Hervé GEORGE, Director of International Partnerships of the IJF, awarded the silver trophy to the valiant Republic of Korea team.
What an unforgettable celebration of judo we had at the OTP Bank World Judo Championships! Budapest delivered World-class action, true judo spirit, and a momentous victory none of us will soon forget. Until next time - thank you for being here!
🔗 Related articles:
- Judo: Kim strikes gold for Korea, Tasoev defends heavyweight crown on Day 7 in Budapest
- Judo: Bellandi conquers -78kg, Kanikovskiy dominates -100kg on Day 6 in Budapest
- Japan shines as Tanaka claims -70kg gold and Murao triumphs in all-Japanese -90kg final
🔍 Insights:
- Georgia's victory was a testament to their resilience, technical prowess, and determined team effort, making a historic triumph for Georgian judo.
- The final between Georgia and Korea was an emotional, intense battle that showcased both teams' exceptional skills and high-level judo techniques.
- The win marks an essential milestone for Georgian judo, positioning them as a powerful contender in the global judo scene.
Let's cheer for the spirit of sportsmanship as Georgia and Korea demonstrate incredible skill and dedication in their intense judo battles. The final showdown between these two teams is a testament to the values deeply rooted in the world of judo, such as resilience, technical prowess, and teamwork.
