Israeli Judo Team Eyes Medals at World Championships Amid National Sensitivity
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israeli judo team aims for medals at World Championships in Azerbaijan.
- This is the first unified men's and women's team at the event.
- Head Coach Shani Hershko sees the championship as Olympic preparation.
- Top athletes like Raz Hershko are progressing but not yet at peak.
- Young talents like Yitzhak Aspiz are showing strong potential.
- Team motivation is heightened by the current sensitive security situation in Israel.
The Israeli national judo team is set to compete in the World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, with 11 athletes representing the country. This marks the first time the men's and women's teams will compete as a unified squad at the World Championships. Head Coach Shani Hershko expressed that the team's consistent expectation is to win medals, viewing the event as a crucial platform for preparation towards the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Hershko acknowledged varying levels of readiness within the team, noting that while some athletes are capable of reaching the podium, younger and less experienced competitors are expected to show progress. He highlighted that last year's championship in Budapest saw some Israeli athletes unable to compete due to security concerns related to Iran, making this year's unified participation a significant test.
Regarding top athletes, Hershko stated that Raz Hershko is not yet at her peak but is progressing well and is currently ranked number one globally. He anticipates improvement from her at the championships, despite strong competition. Gefen Primo and Tamar Nelson Levy are also expected to be well-prepared, with their potential to reach the podium dependent on having an optimal day.
Young talent Yitzhak Aspiz, despite his relative inexperience at the senior World Championship level, is seen as a formidable opponent. Hershko emphasized Aspiz's strong recent performance and potential, while also noting the long-term goal of preparing him for the Olympics.
The team will not participate in the mixed team event due to a lack of a strong heavyweight presence and an injury to Yuli Alma-Yishner, which prevented the planned division of workload. Hershko expressed regret over this decision, hoping to compete in the team event at future championships.
In light of the current sensitive security situation in Israel, Hershko emphasized the heightened sense of national pride and motivation among the athletes. He stated that despite movement restrictions and security measures, the circumstances serve as an additional reason to fight for their country.
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