Judo israel

Israel alleges antisemitic attack on youth judo team in Poland, local authorities dispute claims

The embassy called on the Polish authorities to act promptly, investigate the incident, and ensure the team's safety.

Israelis during a judo practice in Ramat Gan, July 5, 2024.
ISRAELI JUDOKA Gili Sharir marked one of the biggest wins of her career by capturing the gold medal in the under-63kg division at the Zagreb Grand Prix.

Sharir shines for Israel, claims under-63kg judo gold medal at Zagreb Grand Prix

 Israeli sailor Tamar Steinberg and her coach Shahar Tzuberi

Olympic Committee of Israel halts 2025 awards amid security challenges

ISRAELI JUDOKA Raz Hershko celebrates after winning the gold medal in the over-78kg category at the Lima Grand Prix in Peru.

Israeli judokas shine at Grand Prix in Peru


Free the athletes

The Iranian National Olympic Committee pressured Mollaei over the phone to lose his semi-final bout and avoid having to face an Israeli, Sagi Muki, in the finals – which was very possible.

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Will Iranian judoka Mollaei compete in Israel?

"I am a fighter. I want to compete wherever I can. I live in a country whose law does not permit me to. We have no choice, all athletes must comply with it," Mollaei said in an IJF statement.

Judo - World Judo Championships - Men's Under 81 kg - Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan - August 28, 2019 - Iran's Saeid Mollaei and Russia's Khasan Khalmurzaev compete.

Iran judoka pressured not to fight Israeli, refuses to return

The International Judo Federation said Saeid Mollaei was told to lose his earlier round matches to avoid a final encounter against Israel's Sagi Muki.

Judo - World Judo Championships - Men's Under 81 kg - Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan - August 28, 2019 - Israel's Sagi Muki and Kyrgyzstan's Vladimir Zoloev compete

Judo champion Muki to 'Post': I want to compete against Iranian, hug him

The Israeli judoka expressed his sympathy for his Iranian competitor, who was forced to lose his final two bouts so that the two would not compete against one another.

Israeli judoka Sagi Muki celebrates with his gold medal after winning the under-81kg event at the European Judo Championships in Tel Aviv

Iranian judoka seeks asylum after pressure to avoid facing Israeli

Based on an unwritten law, the Islamic Republic bans Iranian athletes from facing Israeli competitors in international competition.

Judo - World Judo Championships - Men's Under 81 kg - Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan - August 28, 2019 - Iran's Saeid Mollaei and Russia's Khasan Khalmurzaev compete.

Iranian Judoka Saeid Mollaei seeks asylum in Germany

The previous world champion is under heavy suspicion that he deliberately lost so as not to fight Israeli Judoka Sagi Muki.

Judo - World Judo Championships - Men's Under 81 kg - Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan - August 28, 2019 - Israel's Sagi Muki and Kyrgyzstan's Vladimir Zoloev compete

Ze’evi: Muki on path to becoming Israel’s greatest judoka

“We finally have our own world champion in blue-and-white,” Muki’s coach said.

SAGI MUKI became the first Israeli male judoka to win a world championships gold medal this week in Tokyo

Egyptian Foreign Ministry: Politics should not be involved in sports

"The refusal of the Egyptian to [Muki's] handshake is nothing but an insult to Egypt's reputation in world sports."

 Israel's Sagi Muki and Belgium's Matthias Casse compete

Israeli judoka Sagi Muki wins gold medal at World Championship

Muki showed impressive fighting abilities in Wednesday's tournament, having beaten most of his opponents by Ippon, including a fight that lasted merely 25 seconds.

Judo - World Judo Championships - Men's Under 81 kg - Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan - August 28, 2019 - Israel's Sagi Muki and Kyrgyzstan's Vladimir Zoloev compete

Iranian Judo champion Saeid Mollaei to compete in Tokyo

The Iranian athlete was said to not to attend the Sunday World Judo Championships in Tokyo as he may compete against Israelis.

Israeli judoka Sagi Muki celebrates with his gold medal after winning the under-81kg event at the European Judo Championships in Tel Aviv