Itai Bitkov Crowned European U23 Judo Champion
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
Itai Bitkov won the European U23 Judo Championship in Naples, securing Israel's second gold medal at the event. His victory adds to a successful weekend for Israeli judokas, including Yonathan Wexler's gold and Ilay Chayoun's bronze at the same championship. The Israeli team finished third overall, with a total of five medals across various competitions, showcasing the nation's judo prowess.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Itai Bitkov won the European U23 Judo Championship in Naples.
- Bitkov's gold medal was Israel's second at the U23 European Championships.
- Yonathan Wexler also secured a gold medal at the U23 European Championships.
- Ilay Chayoun earned a bronze medal at the U23 European Championships.
- The Israeli team finished third overall in the U23 individual championships.
- Raz Hershko won a silver medal at the Grand Slam in Abu Dhabi.
Israeli judoka Itai Bitkov secured the European U23 Championship title in Naples on Saturday, adding a second gold medal for Israel at the event. Bitkov, competing in the U81kg category, defeated Norway's Martin Bryggjanes in the final with an impressive ippon in under a minute. He had a strong performance throughout the day, winning matches against opponents from Greece, Serbia, and Turkey.
Bitkov expressed his joy at hearing the Israeli anthem, especially during difficult times, and thanked the Judo Association and the Israeli people for their support. His victory follows that of Yonathan Wexler, who also won a gold medal on Friday.
The Israeli national team concluded the individual championships in third place overall, having earned three medals: gold for Wexler and Bitkov, and bronze for Ilay Chayoun. Coach Arthur Katev was recognized with a commemorative shield bearing the three medals.
Shani Hershko, commenting on the weekend's achievements, highlighted the impressive haul of medals for Israeli teams, including Bitkov's U23 European title and Raz Hershko's silver medal at the Grand Slam in Abu Dhabi. She noted that Raz Hershko's medal was achieved despite accumulated fatigue from the World Championships and that she would now rest before the Masters tournament later in the year.
Additional successes mentioned include Wexler's U23 European gold, Chayoun's U23 European bronze, and Gefen Primo's bronze at the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam. Hershko summarized the weekend as exceptional, with five medals in total, including two golds at the U23 European Championships, reflecting the depth and quality of Israeli judo and the ongoing professional work across all age groups. Appreciation was extended to the professional teams, the Judo Association, and its head, Moshe Ponti.
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