Besik, I know that you have had problems with the departure to the championship. What kind of problems did you have?

Shortly before my departure to championship, I had problems with financing.

Since I was named the best para-athlete in 2013, a special commission appointed me funding from Paralympic Committee. Then for some reason they extended a funding to local armwrestling federation. And then president of the federation took me this funding. He told that athletes with disabilities are not included in his terms of reference. He could just turn everything back to committee, but he did not. I asked the Minister about the problem, but the authorities have not gave a clear answer. Then I asked the press and TV, grave scandal started. And in the last two days before departure I got the money. Past year the same situation happened to me, but with the Paralympic Committee. Every championship takes a lot of nerve.

And yet you're already here. How does it feel?

I feel cool! I was going as I could, I got silver and gold medals. But the main thing, of course, is participation.

Do you think that holding separate championships for healthy and disabled is necessary?

I am not the first year in the sport and I can compare with other sports, so clearly I can say that such things should be dealt with separate federations. Perhaps they will interact, but federations must be separate and championships too. Athletes with disabilities need other conditions to fight, so I think that this is a completely different sport. For example, in the para-lifting disabled athletes perform exercises quite differently in other style. European and World Championships for disabled shall be held by qualified persons.

Do you do such championships in Georgia?

Previously, when Paralympic Committee worked well, we had championships for athletes with disabilities, I personally organized them. Sportsmen with different types of body problems took part there. Now the format of the committee's work has changed a bit, championships do not pass, but with their support or not, I will gather such events in future.

How can you assess the overall preparation of athletes for the championship?

I was very pleased with Sergei Vyatkin, he’s a good athlete. With Mikhail Zverev we struggled in the finals on 1998-99, and it is still in great shape. All prepared perfectly. I see that every armwrestler is laid out in full, no matter for what place he fights. Everybody is very strong!

AK