IIS Welcomes Lasha Shavdatuashvili To Lead Judo Masterclass For Athletes And Coaches In India

Add as a preferred source on Google

Georgian judo legend Lasha Shavdatuashvili is visiting India from 25th to 29th November 2024. He will conduct a five-day judo masterclass for athletes and coaches.

The Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) announced this initiative, aiming to elevate judo in India. Lasha, a three-time Olympic medalist, will lead the sessions at the IIS Headquarters in Bellary, Karnataka.

The masterclass is part of the IIS Excellence Accelerator Programme. It will involve nearly 70 judokas and coaches. Lasha's visit is expected to significantly impact Indian judo by sharing his expertise with young athletes and selected coaches from across the country.

Lasha Shavdatuashvili has an impressive track record, having won a Gold Medal at the London 2012 Games, a Bronze Medal in Rio 2016, and a Silver Medal at Tokyo 2020. His achievements also include five World Championship medals, two of which are Gold Medals. This makes him one of the most successful athletes in judo history.

Expressing his excitement about being in India, Lasha stated, "I consider it a privilege to come to India and share my knowledge with judokas and coaches, who, I believe, will shine and perform on the international stage in the near future." He acknowledged IIS's efforts in promoting Indian judo over recent years.

IIS Founder Parth Jindal emphasised the importance of translating talent into medals for Indian judokas. He noted that only one judoka represented India at the Paris Olympics. "We need to work to change that at LA 2028," he said. Bringing an athlete like Lasha to India is part of their strategy to enhance India's judo programme.

The IIS Excellence Accelerator aims to provide athletes with top-notch infrastructure and exposure. Manisha Malhotra, President of IIS, explained that this initiative seeks to educate and give an advantage to athletes as they prepare for LA 2028. She highlighted Lasha's invaluable insights during these sessions.

About Inspire Institute of Sport

The Inspire Institute of Sport is located in Vijayanagar, Karnataka. It was established to develop champions with a focus on Olympic success. The institute boasts state-of-the-art facilities and sports science resources. It also employs some of the finest coaching minds globally to guide athletes towards achieving their Olympic dreams.

This masterclass marks the beginning of IIS's newest initiative under the Excellence Accelerator series. The programme aims to create more opportunities across various sports disciplines they support.