Israeli Judo Prodigy Ashpiz Eyes Olympic Gold

Eighteen-year-old Israeli judoka Tal Ashpiz is rapidly ascending the global ranks, currently holding a top-five position worldwide in the under-60kg category. His recent achievements include a gold medal at the Grand Slam in Budapest, following a bronze at the Grand Slam in Mongolia. Ashpiz made history last year by becoming the youngest Israeli to win a senior Grand Prix gold medal in Lima, and later the youngest to secure a senior Grand Slam medal at the Paris Grand Slam, where he defeated two-time world champion Hifumi Abe. He also won gold at the Grand Slam in Tbilisi and a bronze at the European Championships, again setting a record as the youngest medalist in the senior event. Ashpiz, who grew up in Rishon LeZion, views his 2023 U18 World Championship win at age 16 as his professional starting point. Despite a recent ankle injury, he returned to competition, winning the Budapest Grand Slam just before Rosh Hashanah, an event he described as emotionally powerful. He is now preparing for the World Championships in Baku in three weeks, with a podium finish considered a realistic goal. Ashpiz cites Japanese judoka Hifumi Abe as his role model and aims for Olympic gold, emphasizing his desire for sustained dominance at the top level rather than fleeting success. He believes his aggressive fighting style and mental fortitude, honed by judo, contribute to his success. Ashpiz also noted a peculiar interaction with a French opponent after a match in Paris, where the opponent declined a handshake, a behavior Ashpiz stated is characteristic of that judoka when losing.