Israel Wins Three Medals at European U18 Judo Championships in Spain

At the European Under-18 Judo Championships held in Gran Canaria, Spain, the Israeli team achieved significant success by winning three medals on June 30, 2026. Yahli Yahav claimed the gold medal in the under-52 kg category, defeating opponents from Portugal, Serbia, Poland, Georgia, and ultimately winning the final by ippon against Ukraine's Kseniya Kirletsuk. Tom Simchayev earned the silver medal in the under-66 kg division after victories over competitors from France, Belgium, Poland, and Azerbaijan, before losing in the final to Serbia's Nikola Radanov. Itamar Cohen secured the bronze medal in the same weight class, winning against judokas from Slovakia, Moldova, Bulgaria, and Hungary, with a semifinal loss to a Serbian opponent.

Israeli head coach Shani Hershko praised the athletes and coaching staff, highlighting the achievements as promising signs for the future of Israeli judo. He expressed gratitude to the athletes, coaches, the Judo Association, and its chairman Moshe Ponti for their support and trust. The three medals reflect the dedication and hard work invested by the team and coaching staff in preparing the young athletes for international competition.