Georgia has nurtured a number of well-known and titled boxers, some have achieved success on significant regional and international competitions. In recent years, Georgian boxers have successfully performed in the European Championships and World Boxing Championships. In May of this year, we were pleased with the Georgian success in European Championship U18 in Erevan, Armenia, while their older colleagues made us happy with a successful performance at the World Championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
MEET DEMUR KAJAIA
Today I want to introduce the readers one of the most promising young boxers in Georgia, who has reached brilliant results in European Championships and World Boxing Championships in the last 4 years. His name is Demur Kajaia, born and raised in a small village named Sajijao – Khobi Borough district, Georgia. On December 7th, he will turn 18, and he has already managed to become Georgian champion five times (in different age categories), 4 times champion of Europe: In 2019 in school championship, in 2021 among cadets, in 2022 and 2023 among boxers U18 and Vice World Champion in U18 Boxing Championships (2022).
During the European Championships’ U18 Boxing event, held in early May of this year in Yerevan, he confidently won all 4 fights in the competition, becoming the European champion of his category 67 KG. My interview with him took place in Tbilisi.
Demur, how did you get into boxing?
“In my village Sajijao, traditionally, many children are interested in boxing, there is a gym where the local trainers have trained quite a few successful boxers. From the age of 5 I began to train at home – my father Paata, was my first coach. 4 years passed and when my father saw my progress (laughs) at the age of 9 I was taken to the boxing section in the rural gym.
“From the age of 9 until the last fight, I was trained in Sajijao by my coach Edik Todua. I owe my success in boxing to him, he shaped me as a boxer and I am very grateful to him. There are no words to express my gratitude towards him as a coach and as a person.
“Since last autumn I have been training in Batumi town (Black Sea side of Georgia), where my personal trainer is an experienced specialist Gela Abashidze, I am very pleased with him. I also want to thank the coaching staff of the Georgian national team (head coach Shalva Dundua, coaches Gocha Rusia and Levan Guledani) at the European Championship in Yerevan.
What is your biggest goal for the coming years and in boxing in general?
“In general, I don’t like to talk about my plans and tasks in advance, but I’ll tell you a secret (laughs) – my goal is to successfully perform at the European Championships and World Championships among adults, and then, of course, win a ticket for the 2028 Olympic Games and win at least bronze medals there, and if I can, go even further. However, for all of this, I need to work hard every day and stay consistent.
“I have to follow a strict programme and refuse all the different temptations of life. Nevertheless, I am ready for such intensive work and regime, because I have set high goals for myself in adult tournaments as well. With my performances, I want to please my family, fellow villagers, coaches, the Federation, boxing fans and all of Georgia.
(L-R): Demur Kajaia meets journalist Tengiz Pachkoria, the writer
Credit: AIPS Media
