Janez Kocijančič Award winner Lasha Bekauri has won gold in the men’s judo -90kg category at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

Georgian judoka Bekauri was presented as the inaugural male winner of the honour at the European Olympic Committees (EOC) General Assembly in Bucharest. The Janez Kocijančič Award is given to the best male and female athlete at the European Games as chosen by the EOC Athletes’ Commission.

Bekauri helped Georgia to win the mixed team judo event at Kraków-Małopolska 2023, and exemplified the Olympic spirit and values during the competition.

He has enjoyed further success at the Olympic Games in Paris, successfully defending his men’s -90kg title with a 10-1 victory against Sanshiro Murao of Japan.

“Gold is my favourite colour,” Bekauri quipped after his latest success.

He added: “It was a tough fight because Japanese judoka are so strong. We always have really tough fights, and this fight was unbelievable.”

EOC President Capralos at the judo arena where he awarded the Georgian gold medalist, twice Olympic champion, Lasha Bekauri.

In another significant highlight, former EOC Refugee Team athlete Cindy Ngamba reached the quarter-finals of the women’s boxing -75kg.

Ngamba competed at the 3^rd European Games in Kraków-Małopolska, where the EOC Refugee Team was the first to take part in a Continental Association’s multi-sport event, and was one of the flagbearers for the IOC Refugee Olympic Team at the Opening Ceremony of Paris 2024.

She began her Olympic competition with a 3-2 split decision win over Canada’s Tammara Thibeault.

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