Israeli Noga Reshef Wins Under-21 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship in Abu Dhabi

The Israeli national jiu-jitsu team began the Under-21 World Championship in Abu Dhabi with notable successes on August 2, 2026. Noga Reshef, the reigning European champion, secured the gold medal in the under-63 kg weight category after a closely contested final against a top local competitor from the United Arab Emirates. The match was decided in a golden score round following a decisive sweep by Reshef, and the Israeli national anthem was played in the Abu Dhabi arena in her honor.

Additionally, Yoav Solomon earned a bronze medal in the under-56 kg category by defeating an opponent from Singapore in the bronze medal match. The Israeli team achieved further successes on the first day of competition, supported throughout by Israel's ambassador to Abu Dhabi, Yossi Shelly, who personally presented the medals to the Israeli athletes on the podium.

Amir Boaron, coach of the Israeli team, praised the athletes' performances in a highly competitive field, highlighting Reshef's resilience and Solomon's strong finish. He also expressed gratitude to the Israeli Jiu-Jitsu Association leadership and coaching staff. The championship will continue with the Under-16 competitions starting the following day, where the Israeli team aims to maintain their strong performance. The sport of jiu-jitsu in Israel operates under the "Eilat" federation, which oversees non-Olympic sports.