Israeli Judoka Peter Paltchik wins gold medal at European Championship

The result is a new career high, the previous being a bronze medal he won in the 2018 European Championships in Tel Aviv.

NOVEMBER 21, 2020 22:50

Peter Paltchik from Israel (blue) fights with against Gasimov Elmar (white) from Azerbaijan in the final of the under 100 kg weight category during the Judo Grand Slam 2018 in Abu Dhabi, on October 29, 2018 (photo credit: MAHMOUD KHALED / AFP) — Peter Paltchik from Israel (blue) fights with against Gasimov Elmar (white) from Azerbaijan in the final of the under 100 kg weight category during the Judo Grand Slam 2018 in Abu Dhabi, on October 29, 2018

(photo credit: MAHMOUD KHALED / AFP)

Israeli judoka Peter Paltchik won the gold medal in the under-100kg. category on the final day of the European Judo Championships in Prague on Saturday when he defeated the Arman Adamyan of Russia, last year’s winner, in the final.

Paltchik, 28, needed a “golden score” wazari in overtime to secure his win after both men ended the set four minutes of their contest and the scoreboard remained blank.

Paltchik reached the final by defeating the Georgia’s Varlam Liparteliani in the semi-finals. He began his medal quest by being given a bye into the second round where he beat Ireland’s Benjamin Fletcher and he then went on to defeat Jevgeņijs Borodavko of Latvia in the quarter-finals.

The achievement was a personal best for the Israeli judoka, who won bronze at the 2018 European Championships in Tel Aviv, and he is hitting fine form ahead of the postponed Tokyo Olympics that are set to take place in July.

Paltchik’s medal was Israel’s second at the Prague championships after Tal Flicker won silver in the under-66 kg. weight category on Thursday.

פיטר פלצ'יק שלנו אלוף אירופה! הלב של כולנו התרחב מול הפסגה שכבשת הערב בפראג.ברכות לך יקירנו על מדליית הזהב, ותודה לך על הגאווה הישראלית שאתה מעניק לנו. pic.twitter.com/4Uf1VzADCW
— ראובן (רובי) ריבלין (@ruvirivlin) November 21, 2020

President Reuven Rivlin congratulated Paltchik on his achievement, saying that “our hearts warmed at the sight of the summit you conquered tonight in Prague.”

MK Yoel Razbozov of Yesh Atid-Telem, a former judoka who represented Israel at the Olympics, also congratulated Paltchik and said: “Few people know how much Peter Paltchik has gone through in his life and how hard he has worked to get to this wonderful moment.”

He added: “Peter, I and the whole State of Israel are happy for you and are very proud of you. You set an example to our children and youth and you showed them that with will power, hard work and perseverance, anything can be achieved in life. Champion!”