Olympic Judo Medalist Raz Hershko Joins Kazakh Club for Champions League

Olympic judo silver medalist Raz Hershko has signed a contract with the Kazakh judo club JENYS, and will compete for them in the European Judo Champions League until the end of 2028. Hershko, who is currently preparing for the World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, where she will compete on Saturday, is joining a club that won a bronze medal in the Champions League last year in Belgrade, Serbia. The competition will take place this year on October 24 in Paris, with two-time defending champions Paris Saint-Germain aiming to retain their title. The European Club Championships, which began in 1976 as a men's-only competition, introduced a women's Champions League in 1997. The tournament format became mixed for both men and women only in 2024. Hershko, typically competing in the over 78 kg category, will compete for JENYS in the over 70 kg class. "It is a great honor for me to join JENYS and represent my international club in the Champions League," Hershko stated. "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 being formed between us, and I am very much looking forward to starting our shared journey." National team coach Shani Hershko commented, "We are very happy and proud of this connection with JENYS. This connection is based on values we believe in, excellence, achievement, professionalism, and a constant striving to reach the highest level. Beyond the sporting goal of succeeding together in the Champions League, I see this as an opportunity for a significant professional and sporting connection between Israeli and Kazakh judo."