Israeli Judoka Raz Hershko to Compete in European Champions League

Israeli judoka Raz Hershko has signed a contract with the Kazakh judo club JENYS, which will see her represent the team in the ECC Champions League until the end of 2028. JENYS is a professional and ambitious club from Kazakhstan that has previously won a bronze medal in the ECC Champions League, the premier European club competition organized by the EJU. The club also trains Olympic champion Yeldos Smetov. Hershko expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, "We are very happy and proud of the connection with JENYS. This connection is based on values we believe in, excellence, achievement, professionalism, and a constant aspiration to reach the highest level." She added that beyond the sporting goal of succeeding together in the Champions League, she sees this as an opportunity for a significant professional and sporting connection between Israeli and Kazakh judo. Hershko herself commented, "It is a great honor for me to join JENYS and represent my international club in the Champions League. I come with a lot of motivation and a desire to contribute to the team and succeed together. For me, there is also special significance in the connection with a club from Kazakhstan and the sporting partnership that is being created between us, and I am very much looking forward to starting our shared journey." The Champions League event is scheduled to take place in Paris on October 24th. The European Club Championship is considered the highest level of club judo in Europe, and the 2026 edition will feature a mixed team format. Each team will consist of four to six judokas, combining men's and women's categories to determine the European champion club. The competition is expected to be exciting, with Paris Saint-Germain Judo entering as the reigning champions for the past two years, aiming to defend their title against top European clubs on French soil. Prize money totaling 100,000 Euros will be awarded: 40,000 Euros for the winner, 30,000 Euros for the runner-up, and 15,000 Euros for each of the two bronze medalists. Additionally, the top four teams will secure direct qualification for the 2027 Champions League.