Israel's Judo Team Eyes Medals at Unified World Championships

The Israeli national judo team, comprising 11 athletes, is set to compete in the World Judo Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, starting Sunday. This marks the first time the men's and women's teams will compete as a unified squad at the world championship level, under the guidance of Head Coach Shani Hershko. Last year, security concerns related to Iran prevented some Israeli athletes from participating in the Budapest championships. Hershko expressed that while the team has athletes of varying experience levels, the primary goal is to reach the podium, with a focus on developing younger, less experienced judokas. He views the championship as a crucial stepping stone towards the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. "Our expectation is, as always, in every competition we do, to reach the podium," Hershko stated. He noted that Raz Hershko, currently ranked world number one, is not yet at her peak but is progressing well after a quick return to competition following an injury. Gefen Primo, who recently won gold, and Tamar Nelson Levy are also considered strong contenders if they have a "perfect day." Young talent Yitzhak Aspiz, despite his lack of senior world championship experience, is seen as a formidable opponent who has shown significant progress over the past year. The team will not participate in the mixed team event due to a lack of strong heavyweight competitors and an injury to Yuli Almog Mishiner, which would have necessitated sharing the heavy load with Raz Hershko. Hershko emphasized that despite the heightened security sensitivities and restricted movement due to the current situation in Israel, the team feels an intensified sense of national pride and motivation to represent the country. "This only makes us more motivated," he said, viewing the challenges as a reason to fight harder rather than an excuse.