Israeli Taekwondo Athletes Win Silver and Bronze in World Cup

Israel's national taekwondo team achieved success at a World Cup event in Poland, with Alexandra Dan securing a silver medal and Ariel Vigdor earning a bronze.

Dan, competing in the under-49kg category, advanced to the final after defeating opponents from Poland and China. Her quarterfinal victory was a significant rematch against China's Misua Li, a bronze medalist at the recent World Championships, whom Dan had lost to previously. Dan reached the final by default when her scheduled semifinal opponent, the Turkish World Champion, did not appear. In the final, Dan faced Spain's Adriana Cerezo Iglesias, the Olympic silver medalist and a World Championship bronze medalist. Despite a close match, Dan ultimately lost 2-0 in sets, taking home the silver medal.

Dan is set to compete next weekend in the Grand Prix in Paris, featuring the top 32 athletes globally in her weight class.

Vigdor, in the under-53kg category, also secured a medal for Israel. She won her matches in the round of 16 and quarterfinals against competitors from Greece and Italy, respectively. In the semifinals, Vigdor lost 2-0 to Turkey's Sila Irmak Ozunchevdar, the under-21 World Championship runner-up, earning her the bronze medal.

Vigdor will continue with the Israeli team to the next World Cup event in Tirana, Albania, which coincides with the Paris Grand Prix.

Three other Israeli athletes, Tom Pashkovsky (54kg), Liam Cohen (54kg), and Tomer Barash (58kg), finished in fifth place. Yarden Nesher (49kg) and Anya Nisenbovich (67kg) placed ninth. Other Israeli participants included Ilya Ruderman (+87kg), Lipaz Hrgama (+73kg), and Maya Schwartz (53kg). The team was accompanied by coaches Yechiam Sharabi and Roman Rosinov.