Israel Finishes 16th at U16 Women's Water Polo World Championship After Narrow Loss to Ukraine

The Israeli U16 women's water polo team concluded the World Championship in Zagreb, Croatia, in 16th place following a dramatic 12-11 defeat to Ukraine in their final match on Friday. Israel started strong, leading 5-2 after the first quarter, but Ukraine rallied to lead 6-5 by halftime and maintained momentum to secure the win. This loss marked Israel's third consecutive defeat in classification matches for places 13 to 16, following losses to Italy (12-5) and Canada (7-4).

Yahli Rokach stood out as Israel's top scorer throughout the tournament, netting five goals in the final game. Coach Idan Kaftori reflected on the team's performance, emphasizing the importance of hard work and consistent training, stating, "There are no shortcuts in sports, especially in our discipline. We will return home and consider how to improve and advance for next year and beyond."

Looking ahead, the Israeli U20 women's team is set to begin their European Championship campaign against Greece on Saturday, continuing a busy summer for Israel's youth water polo teams. Upcoming competitions include the U18 women's World Championship, the U20 men's European Championship, and the U16 boys' World Championship.