Israel Wins Gold and Bronze at U23 European Judo Championships
Translated & summarized from Sport5 by baba
Israel's national judo team secured two medals on the first day of the U23 European Championships in Naples, Italy. Yonatan Wexler won gold in the under-60kg category, and Eli Hayon took bronze in the under-52kg division. Head Coach Shani Hershko lauded the athletes' performance, calling it an excellent achievement and part of a highly successful year for Israeli judo.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Yonatan Wexler won gold at the U23 European Judo Championships in Italy.
- Eli Hayon secured a bronze medal in the under-52kg category.
- The Israeli team's performance marks a successful year for Israeli judo.
- Head Coach Shani Hershko praised the athletes' professionalism and character.
- Moshe Ponti, head of the Judo Association, was thanked for his support.
The first day of the U23 European Judo Championships in Naples, Italy, saw a strong performance from the Israeli national team, securing two medals. Yonatan Wexler claimed the gold medal, becoming the European champion in the under-60kg category. He defeated Oleksandr Kalynin of Ukraine in the second round, followed by wins over Vah Agakhsyan of Armenia and Luka Gviniashvili of Georgia in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively. In the final, Wexler faced Italian Pietro Andrini, securing a waza-ari and maintaining his lead to win the title.
Eli Hayon earned a bronze medal in the under-52kg category. After an ippon victory over Tetiana Limaiieva of Ukraine in the second round, she was defeated in the quarterfinals by Bojana Savic of Serbia. Hayon then advanced to the bronze medal match through the repechage, where she defeated Georgian judoka Tetrisvhili. In the bronze medal bout, she secured an ippon victory with a hold against Marharyta Miroshnychenko of Ukraine.
Shani Hershko, the Head Coach of the Israeli national team, praised the athletes' performance, calling it an excellent achievement. He highlighted Wexler's impressive win, noting his professionalism, determination, and competitive maturity, and commended Hayon's quality fights, excellent judo, and character. Hershko also thanked Arthur Katev for his support and the entire team for their contributions.
Hershko further stated that these achievements, along with those of the men's and women's teams in other age groups, complete an exceptional year for Israeli judo in 2026, with at least one medal at every European and World Championship. He attributed this success to professional work, commitment, continuity, and quality depth within the national teams, expressing pride and a commitment to continued hard work for future challenges. The Judo Association and its head, Moshe Ponti, were also thanked for their ongoing support.
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