Tel Aviv turns it on for world judo fans

TEL AVIV GRAND SLAM

With Israel’s success in judo at multiple Olympic Games, and World and European Championships, the sport has developed a huge following in the Jewish State, so it was no surprise that there was a full house, and buzzing atmosphere, inside Shlomo Arena from February 17-19, when it hosted the 2022 Tel Aviv Grand Slam.

The second event of the annual Grand Slam series drew 298 athletes representing 34 nations, with France finishing on top with 4 gold and 4 bronze.

To Israeli fans’ delight, they got to cheer on as Baruch Shmailov won gold in the men’s under-66kg, defeating Azerbaijan’s Yashar Najafov in the final.

They also made plenty of noise for Israeli bronze medal winners Peter Paltchik in the men’s under-100kg division, Tohar Butbul in the men’s under-66kg, Timna Nelson Levy in the women’s under-57kg, and Raz Hershko in the women’s over-78kg.

Israel finished in fifth place with 5 medals, just behind Japan.

CANBERRA INTERNATIONAL OPEN

Meanwhile in Canberra last weekend, ACT Judo hosted the first of Judo Australia’s 2022 national series, which involved two young Jewish judokas from Sydney.

There was only a field of three in the under-50kg cadet men’s competition, but Judokan club rep Yonatan Ayzelman was good enough to finish first by winning both his bouts against runner-up Aaron Xu, and Ethan Carpenter.

And in his two under-60kg events, in junior men’s and cadet men’s, UNSW Judo Club member Elijah Raif came equal-third, in fields of 10 and 8 respectively.

Raif, who is also a talented swimmer for Maccabi NSW, had 3 wins and 2 losses in the tournament.

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