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Israeli and Iranian Judokas Close Seven-Year Chapter with Historic Exhibition Match in Netanya

How 4 Israeli newsrooms covered this story — translated into English and compared side by side.

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First reported by Walla · Jul 29, 2026

What happened

Israeli judoka Sagi Muki and Iranian judoka Saeid Mollaei held a historic exhibition match in Netanya, Israel, closing a seven-year chapter that began with political tensions at the 2019 World Judo Championships. Their friendship and this event symbolize hope and peace beyond political conflicts, with a documentary capturing their journey set to air on Israeli television.

01Sagi Muki and Saeid Mollaei held an exhibition judo match in Netanya, Israel, in July 2026.
02The match closed a seven-year saga starting at the 2019 World Judo Championships where Mollaei avoided facing Muki due to Iranian pressure.
03Mollaei expressed gratitude for Israeli support, especially from the Persian community.
04Their friendship symbolizes hope and unity beyond political conflicts between Israel and Iran.
05The event was part of a documentary to be aired on Channel 13, highlighting their story and message of peace.
06After the match, the athletes interacted freely with fans, emphasizing their role as symbols of peace.

Summary translated & synthesized from the sources below by baba. Read each original for the full report.

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