The success of the Israeli team in the European Taekwondo Championship held in Manchester continues, after Nimrod Kravitsky and Rivka Baich won bronze medals.
Rebecca Baich, a bronze medalist from last year's European Championships, who competes in the up to 46kg category, returned to competition after suffering a long injury and rehabilitation, and after a close and tumultuous battle, defeated Turkey's nipple 33:42 and advanced to the quarterfinals.
At this stage, against Dina Purinhas, an Iranian who represents the Netherlands, the Israeli easily won 11:31 and advanced to the semifinals, where she surrendered after a crazy battle to Turkey Amin Govkan 64:51 - and will settle for a bronze medal.
Kravitsky, who competes in the weight category up to 68 kg, opened the competition day excellently, defeating a Cypriot opponent and in the next battle had no trouble beating Croatian Leon Glaznovic 12:23, to secure his place in the last eight.
In the quarterfinals, the 3-time Greek Konstantinos Hamalidis was waiting for him, and after Kravitzky led throughout the fight and finished with 11:21, he also advanced to the semifinals.
In a battle for a place in the final, Kravitzky met the world runner-up, Javier Peres of Spain, who easily defeated the Israeli, in a one-sided battle, 4:20.
Kravitzky will, as mentioned, take the podium to receive the bronze medal.
Alex Filipov, who competes in the weight category up to 80 kg, started directly in the second round, where in a dramatic battle that was decided at the last second, he defeated the Spanish John Sintado Arche, and advanced to the quarterfinals with 15:17. In the last eight he lost to Danny Eddie Hernitz From the competition.
As you may recall, on the opening day of the championship, Olympic bronze medalist Avishag Samberg (up to 49 kg) won the silver medal and Paralympic taekwondo fighter Assaf Yasur (up to 58 kg) won the bronze medal.
Tomorrow (Sunday) the championship will close, with Adnan Milad, who will participate in the up to 63 kg weight class, in the Paralympic competition.
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