Born on December 29, 1958 in Dzlevisjvari, Kareli. Judoist (78 kg).

Champion of the XXII Olympic Games (1980 Moscow), third-prize winner of the World Championship (1983), two-fold European winner in team classification (1979, 1983), two-fold second-prize winner (1979, 1982) and a two-fold third-prize winner (1981, 1983) of the European Championships in individual classification, Two-fold Champion of the USSR (1982, 1985), Champion of the VIII USSR Peoples Spartakiads (1983), Absolute wrestler of Georgia in Georgian-style wrestling (1981), Honored Master of Sports of the USSR, Honored Coach of Georgia, Chief Coach of the Georgian Team (1987-1991 and 1997-2009). Under his coaching the Georgian national team became three times European champion and twice World champion in the team classification. He was recognized as the best European coach in 2002, 2003, 2006 and 2008. Recipientof the Vakhtang Gorgasali II class Order and the Order of Honor.