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 securing 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 Smachayev earned the silver medal in the under-66 kg division after victories over competitors from France, Belgium, Poland, and Azerbaijan, before falling to Serbia's Nikola Radanov in the final. Itamar Cohen took home the bronze medal in the same weight class, winning against judokas from Slovakia, Moldova, and Bulgaria, losing in the semifinals to a Serbian opponent, and then securing bronze by ippon against Hungary's Nimrod Mildner.

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 team, the Judo Association, and its chairman Moshe Ponti for their support and trust. The medals reflect the dedication and hard work invested by the athletes and their trainers in this joint national team effort.