Israeli sports

Israeli MMA fighter Shimon Smotritsky earns unanimous decision win at 559 Fights 120 - interview

"When I fight like myself, freely, and without trying to entertain someone or try to hype the crowd up and do all this nonsense, I’m the best version of myself," Smotritsky says.

|BySAM HALPERN
Shimon Smotritsky (left) and James Porter at the weigh-ins ahead of their match at the 559 Fights 120 event in Porterville, California.
One of Hapoel Beersheba's Kings Kangwa with teammates and one of Beersheba's Dan Bitton celebrating goals

Maccabi Tel Aviv keeps pace in Third with conquest of Hapoe

After a fairly even opening 20 minutes, Mathew Cudjoe’s reckless tackle on Helder Lopes saw the midfielder sent off, leaving Sakhnin with only 10 men.

|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
DANIEL PERETZ begins a new chapter with Hamburger SV as he looks to secure the starting role in the Bundesliga.

Daniel Peretz to Southampton, Manor Solomon to Fiorentina in midseason moves - report

Reports say goalkeeper Daniel Peretz is nearing a loan move to Southampton, while winger Manor Solomon could switch from Villarreal to Fiorentina this month.

|ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
FROM PLAYERS to fans, everyone was thrilled with Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Euroleague return to Israel, where the yellow-and-blue beat Villeurbanne 92-84 at Yad Eliyahu.

Tel Aviv beats Villeurbanne in first Euroleague game back in Israel since 2023

The first game back in Israel provided plenty of excitement as Lonnie Walker (29 points) and Roman Sorkin (26 points) led the way for the yellow-and-blue.

|ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN

Big moments define early-season league play

Beersheba storms back from 2 goals down to beat Netanya • Atzily’s brace secures Beitar’s win

AUGUST 26, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
MACCABI NETANA defender Saba Khvadagiani (left) vies for the ball with Hapoel Beersehaba’s Alon Turgeman during the Reds’ 4-2 Premier League victory

Getting Israeli players back to the top of the tennis landscape

The days of big-name Israelis playing in the baking hot sun or in the late-night chill of Queens, NY, in front of flag-waving, cheering Israeli supporters, are a distant memory.

AUGUST 21, 2025ByHOWARD BLAS
YONI ERLICH (left) and Dudi Sela (right) – playing together in the Davis Cup in 2013 – icons of Israeli tennis whose successors are hopefully just around the corner.

Soccer: Maccabi Tel Aviv marches on in Europe as Haifa and Beitar fall

Maccabi Tel Aviv beat Hamrun Spartans to reach the Europa League playoff round, as Maccabi Haifa and Beitar Jerusalem were knocked out of Europe.

AUGUST 17, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
Caption: MACCABI TEL AVIV players celebrate their third goal in a 3-1 second-leg victory over Hamrun Spartans, which secured the yellow-and-blue a 5-3 aggregate win and a spot in the Europa Leage Play-off.

Israel shines in kickboxing at World Games with two gold medals and a silver

Thursday's podium successes followed Shaked Nisimian's gold in women’s combat sambo, Nili Block's bronze, and Yulia Sachkov, Jodah Osaid, and Polina Grossman reaching the kickboxing finals.

AUGUST 14, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
ISRAELI KICKBOXER Yulia Sachkov reached the podium on Thursday at the World Game.

Remember the name: Israel U16 Men’s National Team's Omri Orland

The 15-year-old point guard has taken the Israeli youth basketball scene by storm and could very well be on track to the NBA.

AUGUST 14, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
ISRAELI POINT GUARD Omri Orland is turning heads across Europe with the Under-16 national team – and several respected scouts say he’s destined for the NBA.

Israeli 3X3 basketball team excluded from French tournament, citing ‘political conflicts’

Team Ramat Gan’s de-registration from Versailles organizers underscored the growing impact of politics on international sports and Olympic qualification

AUGUST 14, 2025ByJOANIE MARGULIES
ISRAELI 3x3 basketball team, Team Ramat Gan, gears up for international competition, determined to earn Olympic qualifying points despite obstacles.

Gold, bronze, and more to come for Israel at World Games

“Another amazing day with incredible results that once again show the outstanding athletes we have in Israel, especially in non-Olympic sports," said Arik Kaplan.

AUGUST 14, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
GOLD MEDALIST Shaked Nisimian (right) and fellow Israeli Nili Block, who took the bronze, pose together after their victories at the World Games in Chengdu, China.

Questions remain for Israel before EuroBasket

"We have to take everything in proportion, and it’s still very early in terms of preparing for the EuroBasket," said head coach Ariel Beit Halachmi.

AUGUST 12, 2025ByJOSHUA HALICKMAN
WHILE ARIEL Beit Halachmi's Israel roster at the upcoming EuroBasket will feature guard Yam Madar, there are a number of other players – notably Tamir Blatt (not pictured) – who will be missing for the blue-and-white.

Nimrod Ryeder wins jiu-jitsu gold for Israel at World Games

Ryeder delivered a flawless tournament to retain the title he won at the 2022 World Games in Birmingham. A multiple-time European and world champion, Ryeder continues to dominate.

AUGUST 12, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
GOLD MEDALIST Nimrod Ryeder of Israel celebrates on the podium after winning the jiu-jitsu Men's -77kg Ne-Waza Finals at the World Games in Chengdu, China.

Blue-and-white dominates Greece in statement warm-up victory ahead of EuroBasket

The victory comes just a day after Israel blew out Cyprus by 40 points, with a strong second half.

AUGUST 11, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
THE ISRAEL National Team celebrates together on the court after a dominant 75–58 victory over Greece, marking the blue-and-white’s first win against the powerhouse in nearly three decades.