Georgian Wrestler from Gori Wins World Championship Again
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Tuesday, October 23
Georgian freestyle wrestler Geno Petriashvili, 24, from the Gori Municipality in eastern Georgia, has won the world championship twice and dedicated his victory to his homeland and fallen heroes of the Russia-Georgia 2008 war.
“My victory is for my country. I will always do my best to honor my homeland. I also dedicate the medal to the fallen heroes of Shindisi battle,” Petriashvili said, who is from the region which was attacked and bombed by Russians during the Russia-Georgia 2008 war.
Petriashvili defeated Chinese Zhiwei Deng in the final battle, in the 125 kg category.
He won the world championship last year in Paris.
Petriashvili is a two-time world bronze medalist and a bronze medal winner at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
He won the European title in 2016 as well as two bronze medals at the European championships in 2013 and 2017. He won a bronze medal at the European Games in 2015.
The Shindisi Battle took place on August 11, 2008, in the Gori village.
On this day a 21-member detachment of Georgian soldiers came face-to-face with Russian soldiers in Shindisi Village. The Russians greatly outnumbered Georgians and advised the Georgians to surrender, but they refused.
The uneven battle continued for 45 minutes.
Despite being greatly outnumbered, Georgia inflicted significant damage on their enemy. All but four Georgian soldiers died in the fight.
