Israeli Judo Fighter Wins European U21 Bronze Medal

Israeli judoka Hali Zekrouti secured a bronze medal at the European U21 Judo Championships held in Podgorica, Montenegro. Competing in the under-57 kg category, Zekrouti achieved the impressive feat on the first day of the tournament. Her path to the medal included victories over opponents from Belgium, Romania, and Poland. Zekrouti's winning streak was halted in the semifinals by Slovenia's Tina Tomšič, leading her to the bronze medal match.

In a notable all-Israeli contest for the bronze, Zekrouti faced her national teammate, Gil Peretz. Zekrouti ultimately prevailed, securing the medal with two Wazari scores that were upgraded to Ippon, while Peretz finished in fifth place.

Peretz, also competing in the under-57 kg division, had a challenging start, losing her opening match but advancing through the repechage rounds with wins against competitors from the Netherlands, Czech Republic, and Spain before her loss to Zekrouti.

Other Israeli competitors also reached the medal rounds. Ben Tamari finished fifth in the under-60 kg category after losing his quarterfinal match and then the bronze medal bout. Lihi Beker placed seventh.

Head coach Shani Hershko praised Zekrouti's performance, calling it a "prestigious bronze medal" and her second consecutive medal at the European Junior Championships, highlighting her consistency and high-level ability. Hershko also acknowledged the fifth-place finishes of Peretz and Tamari, emphasizing the continued success of Israel's young judo generation and the effectiveness of the national team's development program.