Israel Wins Gold and Bronze at U23 European Judo Championships
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
Israel's Yonatan Kessler won a gold medal and Eli Hayon secured a bronze at the U23 European Judo Championships in Naples, Italy. Kessler triumphed in the under-60kg category, while Hayon earned her medal in the under-52kg division. Head Coach Shani Hershko lauded the team's performance, calling it an excellent achievement and a reflection of the strong work in Israeli judo.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Yonatan Kessler won gold in the U23 European Judo Championships under-60kg.
- Eli Hayon secured a bronze medal in the under-52kg category.
- The U23 European Judo Championships are taking place in Naples, Italy.
- Head Coach Shani Hershko praised the athletes' performance and character.
- Israeli judo has achieved at least one medal at all major championships in 2026.
Israel secured two medals on the opening day of the U23 European Judo Championships in Naples, Italy. Yonatan Kessler claimed the gold medal in the under-60kg category, becoming the European champion. Eli Hayon earned a bronze medal in the under-52kg division.
Kessler's path to victory included wins against opponents from Ukraine, Armenia, and Georgia before defeating Italy's Pietro Andrini in the final match, securing the title with a waza-ari. Hayon's journey saw her win by ippon in the second round against Ukraine's Tetiana Limzieieva, but she was defeated in the quarterfinals by Serbia's Bojana Savic. She then advanced to the bronze medal match through the repechage, winning by ippon against Georgia's Tatrishvili, and ultimately secured the bronze by defeating Ukraine's Marharyta Miroshnychenko with an ippon hold.
Head Coach Shani Hershko praised the team's performance, calling it an excellent achievement and highlighting Kessler's impressive win and Hayon's strong judo and character. Hershko also thanked the Judo Association and its head, Moshe Ponti, for their support. He noted that this success contributes to an exceptional 2026 for Israeli judo, with at least one medal at every European and World Championship across all age groups, reflecting dedicated professional work and depth in the national teams.
