Israeli Judoka Elbaz Eliminated from World Championships After Rival Refuses Handshake
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Israeli judoka Elbaz was eliminated from the World Judo Championships in Azerbaijan after his quarter-final opponent refused to shake his hand. Elbaz, ranked 50th, defeated higher-ranked opponents before losing to world number three Makhmadbek Makhmadbekov. Makhmadbekov, representing the UAE, won the match quickly and then refused to shake Elbaz's hand. Elbaz also lost his bronze medal match but achieved a career-best performance.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israeli judoka Elbaz was eliminated from the World Championships after his opponent refused to shake his hand.
- Elbaz defeated higher-ranked opponents before losing to world number three Makhmadbek Makhmadbekov.
- Makhmadbekov, representing the UAE, won the quarter-final match in 37 seconds.
- Elbaz achieved a career-best performance at the tournament.
- Had Elbaz won bronze, he would have received a grant of approximately 75,000 shekels.
Israeli judoka Elbaz was eliminated from the World Judo Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, after his quarter-final opponent, Makhmadbek Makhmadbekov, refused to shake his hand following the match. Elbaz, ranked 50th in the world in the under-73kg category, had an impressive run in the tournament, defeating the world number six, American Jack Yonezuka, and a Bulgarian opponent before facing Makhmadbekov, the world number three and last year's bronze medalist. Makhmadbekov, representing the United Arab Emirates, defeated Elbaz in 37 seconds via a submission hold. After the match, Makhmadbekov turned away and refused to shake Elbaz's hand. Elbaz also lost his subsequent match for a bronze medal. Despite the loss, Elbaz can leave the competition encouraged by his career-best performance. Sources indicate that had Elbaz won a bronze medal, he would have received a grant of approximately 75,000 shekels.
