Taekwondo Star Avishag Semberg Recalls Brutal Revenge Attack in South Korea
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
Israeli taekwondo athlete Avishag Semberg revealed she was severely injured in a South Korean competition after being unfairly matched against a male opponent. Despite brain swelling and a long recovery, she went on to win a bronze medal at the Under-21 European Championship.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Avishag Semberg was matched against a male opponent in a South Korean taekwondo competition.
- She was knocked unconscious by a head kick just nine seconds into the match.
- Semberg believes the organizers deliberately set her up for this dangerous match.
- She suffered brain swelling and was hospitalized, unable to train for 1.5 months.
- After recovery, she won bronze at the Under-21 European Championship despite limited training.
- Semberg shared this story on the Israeli TV show "Dancing with the Stars."
Avishag Semberg, an accomplished Israeli taekwondo athlete and Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist, recently shared a harrowing experience from a competition in South Korea several years ago. During the event, she was inexplicably matched against a male opponent. The match ended abruptly after just nine seconds when her opponent delivered a head kick that knocked her unconscious. Semberg described feeling that the organizers deliberately set her up for this "revenge mission," stating, "I felt they were doing it to me on purpose."
The injury was severe, involving brain swelling that required immediate hospitalization. As a result, Semberg was unable to train for a month and a half. Despite this setback, she demonstrated remarkable resilience by competing in the Under-21 European Championship shortly afterward, where she won a bronze medal after three tough victories.
Semberg recounted this episode on the Israeli TV show "Dancing with the Stars," highlighting the physical and emotional challenges she faced in a demanding sport like taekwondo. Her story underscores both the risks athletes endure and her determination to overcome adversity and succeed at the highest levels.
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