It is a log time we have not connected Georgian judo and foulness. The fans tired with interior contradistinctions and envy have relaxed in recent years. At one glance the problem is solved but it was a show of piece, the first Vulcan has erupted in these days.  Betkil Shukani member of Georgian national team and Lasha Gujejiani - one of the initiators of sportsmen’ sedition, countered each other. The last one is manager of the team for several years. Incident happened several days before, in Digomi, at Judo Academy. Shukvani and Gujejiani fought at the same time of training of the team. After that, Gujejiani, Irakli Tsirekidze and Giorgi Vazagashvili visited newspaper “Lelo” and caused the reason of Shukvani’s agreesion Shota Khabareli. As far as you know, years ago Tsirekidze, Gujejiani and some other sportsmen demanded to fire Khabareli from manager’s position of the team.
Betkil Shukvani made comment for “World Sport” about this fact.
“The whole team can prove that I did not cause the conflict. I entered the gym for some minutes, I did not say anything to Gujejiani. I even did not pay attention to him. I noticed that it annoyed him, because we have unpleasant situation. I decided not to complicate situation and went out in some minutes.
Telephone rang me. I was talking and I saw that he went out – “why do not you say hello” asked me. My friend who accompanied me said him that after that fact he did not deserve greetings, it irritated him more and dispute developed into fight.
I can swear on an icon that he started this fight. I do not want to talk about the reason now. I do not want to break-up like Gujejiani. As for him, he invented the story about Khabareli with Tsirekidze. That’s why they try to continue the old way, when they achieved their goal and fired Khabareli. Now, they are grieved due to possible arrive of Mamua Khabareli in federation. I am sorry that my personal trouble was used with its name. I’d like to response blame - they stated that, I visited the gym a day before the conflict, but there were not there.  I was in academy but not fighting, I had to meet Lukhum Chkhvimiani for borrowing kimono. After the Olympic Games I operated on and I did not wrestle.  I am going to start training on Tuesday and I left my kimonos in London. I hope judo fans will make a correct decision and not yield to this dirty campaign”- stated Shukvani.
 

Otar Maglakelidze