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Unveiling the New Niko Shera: A Journey from Tokyo Disappointment to Paris Olympics Dream

Published

5 months ago

July 15, 2024

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He himself confesses and verbalizes it like no one else. There is a new Niko Shera (as we allow ourselves in Spain to abbreviate his surname Sherazadishvili), after he fell with a crash in Tokyo in the quarter-finals and in the play-off for bronze after arriving as a two-time world champion and a big favourite for Olympic gold. That day, after extending for another year the suffering of staying below 90 kilos due to the pandemic, he explained in front of the microphones that the pressure had gotten to him.

3 years later, and with the recent world bronze hanging around his neck, the Spanish-Georgian has changed category to -100 kgwhich has made him stop starving himself –although he continues to eat healthily, of course– and see life in a different way, a more relaxed one. So much so, that this time we have been able to bring him to our studio, and in the previous cycle it was absolutely impossible for us to access him because he could not divert his attention from his military training. Now, more like a cover-up, he smiles shyly thinking about getting a medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, his great dream, the one he has had since he has been training in Brunete since he was 13 years old under the orders of the master Quino Ruiz. He is even willing to finally fulfill the obligatory promise of getting drunk for the first time with his friends, imagine how much he has changed.

Ana Ruiz / HEARST

What does it mean to you to be back at the Olympic Games?

How can I define it with words? There are things that cannot be explained. It is something that I lack, but since I was little when I started in judo I was always impressed by seeing Georgian athletes, one of them Olympic champion in 2004 –Zurab Zviadauri, Georgian judoka gold in -90kg–, and with that I knew that I also wanted to be there, it was something very special. And then I have been to the European Games, the Mediterranean Games, that feeling and atmosphere that is created with all the athletes impresses me a lot, and I want to achieve success there. In a world championship it is more complicated, two from each country go, and in the Games only one, it shortens everything. If you only see it as a competition it is easier, but the extra is on a mental level, the importance… And it is a dream that I have set for myself: to close my circle of medals there.

Does Paris make you nervous?

The truth is no. When I get there I will be nervous, but not at the moment. I am training for the goal, I want my preparation and my best form to be for the Olympic Games, the planning with the cycles is all geared towards my physical condition being perfect there. But I am not there yet.

Ana Ruiz / HEARST

What remains of the disappointment of Tokyo?

First of all, I hope I have learned my lesson. Many people tell me that one nail drives out another nail, but I don’t think so. It’s more a learning experience. I hope I have done it and I can prove it in Paris, and I can do it much better. Everything counts as experience. It’s clear that I didn’t want to learn in Tokyo. I was prepared to lose in every competition except there, but it happened, and now after 3 years, with one year injured, everything has happened very quickly and we are here with desire and ready to give it our all.

Name: Nikoloz Sherazadishvili
Age: 28 years
Place of birth: Tiflis (Georgia).
Sport: Judo
Proof: –100 kg
Achievements: World champion in 2018 and 2021 in the -90kg category, double European bronze medalist (2022 and 2024) and recent world bronze (2024) in his current -100kg category.
When to compete: August 1st. First round at 10am, final at 5:38pm.
Competition system: 24 judokas compete in a knockout phase until the final, with the best byes from the first round. The losers of the semi-finals will fight the winner of the duel of two losers in the quarter-finals for two bronze medals.
Main rivals: Zelym Kotsoiev (Azerbaijan), Ilia Sulamanidz (Georgia), Shady Elnahas (Canada), Muzaffarbek Turoboyev (Uzbekistan).

Have you seen that fight?

I haven’t seen it. I’ve seen all my defeats, but not that one. I know, I’m sorry, I remember, but it wasn’t a sporting or physical, technical or tactical issue, it had to be managed in a different way. It was a mental issue, and it can only be solved with the mind.

“I hope I have learned the lesson from Tokyo”

There is a new Niko now, what have you changed mentally?

I have tried to enjoy myself and I have succeeded. That is the key to why I continue doing judo. It is what I like the most and for me it is the most important thing. But I was overcome by obsession. In all these competitions I have tried to enjoy myself a lot more. Because I was also very strict with myself, the issue of losing weight… Without a single meal, 3 months on a diet, starving, without going out on the weekends, without disconnecting, I became obsessed and I should not have. You have to enjoy the goal and the journey. For me it is very important, both are equally important. I am enjoying every day and every competition, and I am trying to change my mentality, because when I enjoy myself and I am calm and well, that is when my best version comes out. That is the idea.

Ana Ruiz / HEARST

And along the way, you breathe easier having moved up in category and weight.

I continue to eat healthy because athletes always have to eat well. What has changed, the important change, is the quantity. I am no longer starving, before and after training, which was always the case, I had less energy, just enough to train. And now I have more, I notice it at home. During the week I always go home to rest after training, and I don’t come home empty-handed. When I was under 90 kilos, the last few months, especially that extra year that was extended due to the pandemic, affected me. That forced me to stay at that weight for a longer time. In short, I continue to eat healthy, but I don’t have the obsession with eating more on days off, and everything is more normal, I’m doing very well.

How did you start practicing judo?

I am from Georgia. I started judo when I was 10 and when I was 13 I came to Spain. I met my coach, my teacher Quino, and I have been with him ever since. And with the good results we have achieved… even qualifying for the Olympic Games in Paris.

“I’m not hungry anymore, before and after training I had no energy”

How did you decide to come to Spain?

It wasn’t my decision, of course, it was my parents who thought about me and my brother, that we would have a better future. At that time in Georgia it was a bit difficult to survive, the country was a bit more unsettled… And to continue with the sport they brought us here. My brother plays football, I did judo, and I think it was a good decision.

Do you feel the pressure of Spanish judo not realising its potential at the Games? READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

I know. We have been very close many times, in the last Games we have lost several bronzes and we have not been able to get them… I don’t know what has happened in the past, but I am very convinced that in these Games, even from the first day when Fran Garrigós debuted, he is going to do very well and that is going to be a push and motivation for the following weights. We are going to get more than 3 medals, I don’t want to specify the number, but a lot.

Ana Ruiz / HEARST

What are these training cycles like?

From Monday to Saturday I always do physical training, and from Monday to Friday I also do judo. I do two sessions every 5 days, and on Saturday I only do the morning. That afternoon and on Sunday I rest. It’s more or less always like that.

What is the team around you like?

Many people, first and foremost my family. Quino, my club in Brunete where I train every day… And what I always say, I am very grateful to my teammates, I need them to be able to train judo, I need many of them of my weight, and they come to train with me only with the aim of helping me in the Olympic Games, but they don’t have an individual one as such. And they don’t have a summer, they are with me every day. Then I have my physical trainer, two physiotherapists, two nutritionists, and with them I can’t help but get that medal.

Ana Ruiz / HEARST

I guess you don’t sign the bronze.

No, no. Any medal is really nice, but I go to every competition with the mentality of winning. Anything can happen. If I go back to Tokyo, where I lost and didn’t get a medal, I’m not going to sign up for bronze either. That’s my mentality: wherever I go, I’m going to win, and if I lose, I’ve lost. If I sign up, I think I’ve given up before I’ve even started; I’m going to fight to become Olympic champion.

“If I sign for (the bronze) I think I’ve given up before I even started”

Who is going to accompany you to Paris?

They are working on it. It is very complicated because there was a draw right after the start, it is expensive and difficult. There are people who have tickets but only for the final block, the qualifying rounds are separate… They are looking at houses, but there are not many, everything is a mess, but at the Games it is normal. The fact is that a lot of people are going and that is enough for me. They have tickets, and they will see where they end up, in the car… I just can’t get them! I think they only give me 2, and there are no more.

Ana Ruiz / HEARST

Any confessional bets you would like to fulfil if you win gold?

My friends have been insisting on it, it hasn’t come out of me, but I’ve never drunk, I’m 28 years old and I’ve never tried alcohol, and with the world championships I always said no, but now with the Games I think I’m going to have to go out and drink. I’ve been partying, but without drinking, they intend to get me drunk, so well, if I become Olympic champion I’m going to get drunk with them. I don’t know what will happen there.

Ana Ruiz / HEARST

Will we surpass the record of 22 medals that Spain still has from Barcelona 92?

Yes, the barrier of 22 medals is very complicated, the extra help they had for being the host country is there, which motivated a lot of people, but we have improved in Spain in all sports. The other countries have also improved, but for me, since France is so close, we are going to feel the people of Spain, that is going to be like playing at home. And I think we can surpass 22 medals, I always think positively and I think it can really happen… Those of us in judo are going to do our part with several.

SPORTS

The Truth About the India Vs Nigeria 99-1 Match

Published

23 hours ago

December 21, 2024

1oo9t

In one way or the other, almost every Nigerian has heard of the mythical match between India Vs. Nigeria that ended with 99 goals to 1 with India being victorious.

Before the advent of the internet, this story successfully thrived among Nigerians, but with the emergence of the internet and easy access to social media, the truth behind the India Vs Nigeria 99-1 match was revealed.

Though there are different accounts of the match, but they all have the following in common:

That the match ended with India scoring 99 goals and Nigeria scoring just one goal.
That Nigerians were unable to kick the ball because the football kept turning to a lion which scared them away…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>
2. That Indians later agreed that if Nigeria could score one goal, they would concede defeat.
3. That Samuel Okwaraji scored the winning goal and lost his life in the process because the ball turned into stone as he was about to kick it.
4. That FIFA banned India from soccer because they used juju (black magic) in that match.
Why did people believe the India Vs Nigeria 99-1 match story?

Even with the absence of the internet back then, this kind of claims should be immediately recognized as lies, the kind of lies they call “big fat lies”. But most people like to acknowledge this story as true with the fact that no one has ever seen India play in an International Football Match. Since no one actually saw India participate in most international soccer games, this gave a little credence to the story.

Another reason this lie thrived for long was that credible information was not easily accessible in Nigeria unlike now that even a 4-year-old child can debunk false claims within minutes with the help of Google. This Nigeria Vs India match story would have been fabricated by one community elder to children during an evening gathering; that’s our take at OldNaija.

What Actually Happened!

On the 12th of August 1989, Nigeria lost one of her best footballers, Sam Okwaraji who died during a football match. We wrote about how he died on the pitch and you can read it here. Sam Okwaraji was the player rumoured to have lost his life in that game when in truth he died during a FIFA World Cup qualifying game against Angola in the 77th minute. He collapsed and died of cognitive heart failure. May his soul rest in peace. AMEN!

Samuel Okwaraji (circled)

So, that is the only truthful thing about the India Vs Nigeria 99-1 match story, the fact that a Nigerian player died during a football match. That is what these lies was fabricated around. The match was not against India, Nigeria did not lose the match and as you must have guessed, and there were no lions or ball turning into a stone.

Meme by Campus Bro

Nevertheless, one cannot deny that this kind of story made one’s childhood as a Nigerian. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

Before we go,

Why was India Banned by FIFA?

India was never banned by FIFA. It was India that withdrew from the tournament themselves. Here is how it happened.

Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) made it clear to India that they would not be allowed to play in the 1950 FIFA World Cup without footwear.

Then something happened. You see, when determining the make-up of the 1950 World Cup, FIFA determined that obviously the two defending finalists, Brazil and Italy, would be guaranteed slots. That left fourteen slots that needed to be filled.

FIFA decided that seven of those slots would come from Europe, six would come from the Americas and one would come from Asia.

The problem was that of the four Asian teams that were invited to the World Cup, three of them (the Philippines, Indonesia and Burma) withdrew from the tournament before the qualification round.

Therefore, India earned an automatic slot within the World Cup. It would be India’s first time appearing in the World Cup but India, too, withdrew from the tournament because FIFA would not allow them to compete barefoot.

READ FULL STORY HERE>>...CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

SPORTS

SAD|| 10 Players Who Lost Everything After Divorce, Number 5 Will Shôck You

Published

2 months ago

November 5, 2024

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The Hidden Financial Struggles of Footballers: Divorce’s Costly Toll

The glamorous image of professional footballers, with their luxurious lifestyles and multimillion-dollar contracts, often obscures a harsh reality: the financial devastation many endure through divorce. Behind the fame and fortune, several high-profile players have seen their wealth significantly depleted after parting ways with their spouses, a stark reminder that no amount of money can fully shield one of the financial pitfalls of personal relationships gone awry…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>

One of the most shocking examples is that of former Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboué, who lost not only his properties in England but also custody of his children following a bitter divorce. Despite earning millions during his career, Eboué found himself stripped of almost everything. His situation became a cautionary tale, underscoring that even the wealthiest footballers can fall victim to the financial ruin that divorce can bring.

Eboué is not alone. Football legends such as Thierry Henry and Ryan Giggs have also experienced significant financial losses due to divorce. Henry reportedly paid £10 million to his ex-wife, while Giggs parted with an astonishing £40 million after his marriage ended. Louis Saha and Wes Brown, both former Manchester United players, also suffered substantial financial hits, with Brown declaring bankruptcy despite earning £50,000 per week during his time at the club. His case highlights how even vast earnings can quickly evaporate when faced with legal settlements and financial mismanagement.

David James, the former England goalkeeper, faced a particularly dire situation, losing much of his fortune after divorce and being forced to auction his personal belongings to make ends meet. Similarly, Ray Parlour, another Arsenal great, saw his ex-wife receive half of his £10 million fortune, including a £2.5 million house. Jamie Redknapp, a former Liverpool star, also faced a hefty settlement, parting with half of his estimated £15 million fortune after his marriage ended.

These are just a few of the many footballers who have faced financial disaster due to divorce. Keith Gillespie, once a key figure in the Premier League, lost over £7 million, leading to his bankruptcy in 2010. Despite earning significant wages during his career, his divorce and poor financial decisions left him in financial ruin. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

Perhaps the most shocking case is that of Tendai Ndoro, a Zimbabwean striker who lost everything after registering all his properties in his wife’s name. Following their breakup, she kicked him out of the house, leaving him with nothing. Ndoro’s story serves as a grim reminder of the dangers of not protecting one’s assets, even in relationships where trust is implicit.

For footballers, whose careers often peak early, these financial setbacks can be devastating. While their salaries are among the highest in professional sports, the combination of short career spans, legal fees, and divorce settlements can quickly erode their fortunes. Many players also face additional challenges in managing their finances due to a lack of financial education or oversight during their playing years.

These stories underscore the importance of safeguarding personal wealth, especially for high-earning individuals like footballers, who may be more vulnerable to financial upheaval. Proper financial planning, asset protection strategies, and prenups are increasingly necessary tools for protecting one’s earnings and securing a stable future.

In conclusion, while the public sees footballers as insulated by their wealth, the reality is that they are just as susceptible to the financial hardships of divorce as anyone else. The personal struggles behind the scenes reveal that their lives, though glamorous on the surface, are often fraught with the same vulnerabilities and challenges faced by ordinary individuals. These cases serve as sobering reminders that financial security is never guaranteed, even for those at the pinnacle of success.

READ FULL STORY HERE>>...CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

SPORTS

NFL | The best was yet to come, and then no

Published

2 months ago

October 12, 2024

1oo9t

In February 2022, the Bengals missed the Super Bowl by three small points, but regardless, the future seemed bright in Cincinnati.

Posted at 1:13 a.m.

Updated at 7:00 a.m.

In any case, that’s what we, the most seasoned experts in American football, believed, capable of seeing the future each season, often in a very impressive way; for example, this column has been predicting since 1970 that the New York Jets are not going to win the Super Bowl, and that’s still exactly what happens.

The Bengals have never won anything, but their presence on the big stage two years ago suggested that, a bit like the Nordiques in 1990, the best was yet to come.

Well, no.

As of this hour, the Bengals are a dismal 1-4, and even then, their only win came against the Carolina Panthers, who are about as bad as they are.

The good news for the Bengals is that this “landing” is fairly easily explained: their defense is pretty awful. The less good news is that it is probably already too late to try to solve this problem.

In five games, the Bengals have allowed a total of 145 points, which gives a pretty staggering average of 29 points per game. No one else in the American Association looks this bad, and in the league as a whole, only the Carolina Panthers are even worse in this regard.

Meanwhile, the Bengals are wasting the best years of Joe Burrow, who turns 28 in December. He wouldn’t be the first quality quarterback to waste his talent in this uniform.

Is it necessary here to remember that in American football, as in life in general, there is never anything certain? This reality reminds us of this sublime quote from Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who once wrote that “supreme happiness is a hundred times sweeter to hope for than to obtain”.

Rousseau must have been a Bengals fan, obviously.

You are probably aware that the New York Jets fired their coachbut that’s not the worst. The worst part is that poor Robert Saleh would have been escorted to the door like a pauper by security agents.

PHOTO MIKE STOBE, ARCHIVES AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

Former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh

It’s undoubtedly one of the worst moments in the history of a club that collects the worst moments, from Mark Sanchez dropping a ball on his lineman’s pussy, to a visibly hot Joe Namath trying to to kiss a reporter live on TV (we’re going to move on to the naughty photo of Brett Favre because there are children here).

We can never repeat it enough: in football, as in life, everything starts from the top. The leaders of the Jets, who display a level of competence similar to that of the inventors of Pepsi Crystal, thus opted for the easy way, instead of realizing that their ground game is non-existent, and that their quarterback who hears voices in his head is finished.

In addition, barely installed, new coach Jeff Ulbrich decided to give control of the attack to assistant Todd Downing, who will call the plays from now on. This is not a detail because this task previously fell to offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, close and confidant of Aaron Rodgers.

It’s obvious that this is going to end very badly. As per usual.

Someone whispers in my ear that the inbox is overflowing again, so let’s get to it right away.

First, Luc Girouard from Sept-Îles sends us this timely little comment: “Would Prince Rodgers have plotted to kick Robert Saleh out in order to take his place? »

We all see what you did, Luc.

Then, there is a certain Nicolas B. from Laval who sent this: “Hi Richard. Great weekly column on football. Really entertaining. In addition, you allow my teenagers to read about football in French, which is still a challenge […] If you ever make a reference to my comment, my sports travel gang is buying me a beer on our next trip. »

You will demand a micro beer, Nicolas. Finally, there is Marco Campanozzi who can no longer hear about “mixing” and the right chair: “I can’t do it anymore!!! »

We are Marco.

It will be another great opportunity to lock yourself in front of the TV while pretending to do something constructive, because Sunday’s menu is particularly spicy.

Thus, Commanders in a state of grace will go to Baltimore to prove that they are serious, the Chargers will go to Denver in the hope of recovering after two defeats in a row, and the Cowboys will host the Lions, in a match that they can’t really let slip away, just to build something following the little miracle last Sunday night in Pittsburgh.

Don’t forget to check out the colors during halftime.

READ FULL STORY HERE>>...CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>