Israeli Badminton Star Misha Zilberman Aims for Historic Fifth Olympics Amid Funding Struggles

Misha Zilberman, Israel’s decorated badminton player, is on track to become the first Israeli athlete to compete in five Olympic Games. In a detailed interview, Zilberman shared the financial challenges he faces, particularly the lack of sufficient funding for his coach, who is also his mother, Svetlana. Despite his consistent top global rankings and multiple European medals, Zilberman often pays for competitions out of pocket and struggles to cover coaching expenses.

Zilberman recounted recent tournaments in Macau, the United States, and Canada, noting that his mother only accompanied him to the most important U.S. event due to budget constraints. He emphasized the critical role she plays during matches, helping him analyze opponents and recover physically. However, after a change in the Israeli Badminton Association leadership, his mother was dismissed from her paid coaching position, forcing her to seek other income sources.

While the Olympic Committee and the association provide some support, Zilberman says it is insufficient compared to his actual expenses. He also receives help from the Otzma Sports Center, which offers exposure, equipment, and training facilities, but financial gaps remain. To supplement his income, Zilberman coaches younger players and runs an academy.

Zilberman highlighted the sacrifices required in badminton, including extensive travel, daily long training hours, and missing family events. He also spoke about the difficulty of maintaining a personal life, noting he is currently single and would only consider a relationship with someone who understands the demands of professional sports. He expressed a desire to start a family eventually but acknowledged the challenges of balancing parenthood with his career.

Ohad Bloch, CEO of Otzma Sports Center, praised Zilberman’s achievements and stressed the importance of supporting less-publicized sports like badminton. Bloch said Zilberman’s pursuit of a fifth Olympics is historic and represents national pride, underscoring the center’s commitment to providing professional support to athletes in niche disciplines.