Israel wins second medal at Rio Paralympics

Shooter Doron Shaziri scales podium for sixth straight Games, taking his personal tally since 1996 to eight medals.

By ALLON SINAI
Updated: SEPTEMBER 13, 2016 09:35
Israeli shooter Doron Shaziri won his eighth Paralympic medal yesterday, finishing third in the men’s 50-meter rifle three positions final. ( (photo credit: KEREN ISAACSON)
Israeli shooter Doron Shaziri won his eighth Paralympic medal yesterday, finishing third in the men’s 50-meter rifle three positions final. (
(photo credit: KEREN ISAACSON)
Doron Shaziri extended his remarkable run of winning at least one medal in every Paralympics since 1996 on Monday, claiming a bronze medal in the men’s 50-meter rifle three positions final in Rio.
The 49-year-old registered a score of 437.5 points in the final and won the Israeli delegation’s second medal of the games, with rower Moran Samuel winning a bronze a day earlier.
Shaziri, who had his left leg amputated below the knee after stepping on a land mine during his army service in Lebanon in 1987, is one of Israel’s most decorated Paralympians. He has now won medals in six consecutive games, taking two silver medals in Atlanta 1996, a bronze in Sydney 2000, two bronzes in Athens 2004, a silver in Beijing 2008 and a silver in London 2012.
“Of course I’m excited,” said Shaziri.
“There is no such thing as a sure medal. I had a pretty mediocre year until today. This was my best competition of the year and I’m happy it came at the right time.”
Shaziri has no intention of retiring. “I have always said that I will continue for as long as I can,” he explained. “As far as I’m concerned, I can see myself competing in another Paralympics.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Shaziri over the phone.
“Congratulations Doron, you were on target,” said Netanyahu. “This is your eighth medal and you succeed on a consistent basis. I’m happy that you proved that the veterans are still going strong – and of course that also goes for the youngsters.”
The Israel delegation had a couple of opportunities to add to its medal tally late Sunday night, but came up just short. Shraga Weinberg and Itai Erenlib suffered defeat in the men’s quad wheelchair doubles semifinals, losing 6-4, 6-2 to Americans David Wagner and Nick Taylor after an hour and 24 minutes.
Erenlib and Weinberg, who won a bronze medal in the doubles four years ago and a silver in 2008, can still finish on the podium should they defeat Brits Jamie Burdekin and Andy Lapthorne in the battle for the bronze medal on Tuesday.
Swimmer Inbal Pezaro is still searching for her first medal in Rio after ending the women’s SB4 100m breaststroke final in sixth place in a time of 2:01.02 minutes.
Pezaro competed late Monday night in the final of the women’s S5 50m freestyle. She qualified from fifth place.
Pezaro won three medals in each of the previous two Paralympics, taking three bronzes in 2012 and three silvers four years earlier, while also claiming a silver and a bronze in Athens 2004. She has still got two more events to come in Rio, the 100m freestyle and the 200m individual medley.
Yoav Valinsky was also in action late Monday, participating in the men’s SM6 200m individual medley final for which he qualified from sixth position.
Itzhak Mamistvalov and Iad Shalabi finished the final of the men’s S2 200m freestyle in seventh and eighth positions, respectively.
Israel’s goalball team lost 7-2 to Brazil in Group C action on Monday.
Israel faces the USA in its final group game on Tuesday.
After failing to show up for Saturday’s encounter with Israel, Algeria played Japan on Monday, losing 7-1. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) said it is investigating the reasons behind the Algerians’ absence.