Israel Judo Team Coach Reflects on World Championships Success and Areas for Improvement
Translated & summarized from Sport5 by baba
The Israeli national judo team secured two medals, a silver by Karem Primo and a bronze by Raz Hershko, at the World Championships. Head Coach Shani Hershko stated the team could have achieved more but acknowledged the success given the strong international competition. He praised both athletes for overcoming significant challenges, including injuries, to reach the podium.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israel's judo team won two medals, silver and bronze, at the World Championships.
- Head Coach Shani Hershko believes the team could have achieved more than two medals.
- Karem Primo, 21, won a silver medal despite overcoming a severe and recurring injury.
- Raz Hershko secured a bronze medal after losing only to the top competitor in her weight class.
- The coach aims for the team to achieve a perfect performance at the upcoming Olympics.
The Israeli national judo team concluded the World Championships with two medals: a silver for Karem Primo and a bronze for Raz Hershko. Head Coach Shani Hershko expressed a mixed assessment of the team's performance, acknowledging the medals and a fifth-place finish but emphasizing the potential for even greater achievements.
"We came back with two medals, a fifth place, and two athletes who reached the round of 16," Hershko stated. "In the grand picture, I am probably satisfied, but there were good and bad things. Ultimately, we demand perfection from ourselves." He noted that many judo powerhouses did not secure any medals, citing Brazil and France as examples, which tempered his disappointment.
Hershko elaborated on Raz Hershko's bronze medal, explaining that despite not having a perfect day due to various reasons, she still managed to win a medal by losing only to the top competitor in her category. He expressed satisfaction with her performance, noting that she now has two World Championship medals, and stated the team's goal is to achieve a perfect day at the Olympics.
Regarding Karem Primo's silver medal, Hershko highlighted her significant challenges, including a severe injury that recurred and impacted her physically and mentally. He expressed pride in her resilience and achievement, especially at the age of 21, making her one of the youngest medalists for Israel at the Judo World Championships. Hershko believes this success will propel her forward, while acknowledging the tough competition in her category.
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