Israeli Ela Bar Lev Wins Cadet World Judo Championship in Ecuador

Israeli judoka Ela Bar Lev made history by becoming the first Israeli female cadet to win the World Judo Championship title. The tournament took place in Ecuador on August 21, 2026, for athletes under 18 years old. Competing in the under-48 kg weight category, Bar Lev delivered a flawless performance, winning all her matches by ippon or yuko, culminating in a dramatic golden score victory over Belgium's fourth-ranked Miles Dufa in the final. She secured the title with a sankaku hold submission.

Alongside Bar Lev, teammate Agam Noy also earned a medal, taking bronze in the same weight class. Noy advanced to the quarterfinals before losing to Russia's Anna Maria Orishenko. She then fought through the repechage rounds, winning her bronze medal match against Brazil's Mikayla Santos after a referee consultation due to an illegal move by her opponent.

Israeli head coach Shani Reshko praised the team’s outstanding day, highlighting the historic achievement of two Israeli athletes standing on the podium in the same weight category. He also commended the coaching staff for their professional and collaborative work. The Israeli cadet team now looks ahead to continuing their competition in the following days of the championship.