Career Georgian. Honoured Master of Sports (judo). Bronze medallist at the XVIIIth Olympic Games. Many times USSR champion.
Achievements At the world championships he won two bronze medals, in 1965 and 1967. At the European Championships he won a open title in 1962 and 1964-1966, and finished second in 1967 and 1968. He was also European team champion in 1963-1966, winning team bronzes in 1962 and 1967. Nationally, he was a Soviet champion in sambo in 1961–1965, but never competed in the judo championships, which were first held in 1973.