Four days before the opening of the World Judo Championships in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, the majority of the Israeli delegation took off this morning (Monday) for the biggest event of the year in the sport, while the rest of the delegation, which includes mainly the heavyweights, will take off on the Thursday after Yom Kippur.
"We are coming with a very special team," said coach of the women's team Shani Hershko.
"We have a full squad, everyone who is on the team is by virtue and there are some who are outside and maybe in a different constellation, their place would be here."
"I'm happy about it, one of the milestones we marked was that there would be a full team, a strong team and even that there would be categories that would be in the fight. Participating in the World Championship is the easy part, succeeding is a little more complex. We will make all the great efforts, when we also receive all the support we need from the union , the girls and the team are committed. There is a very high expectation from the team, but I won't predict."
Raz Hershko.
Expectations are great, photo: Oren Aharoni
It was a successful year for women, what is the expectation at the World Championship?
"We don't focus on expectations, but on daily work. It's not easy, judo is very advanced in the world, but we don't want to hide behind something else. There is a strong team, when it is in a place where there was no such women's team in judo. It is good and not A bad thing. We hope to take the potential and make something good out of it."
What will be considered success?
"Of course we want to win a medal and maybe medals. It won't be easy, we are in an Olympic criterion so my goal is to train as many female athletes as possible for a medal for Paris, and sometimes we see that there are no medals. I really believe in the team."
18 Jews in total
In total, the composition of the Israeli national team will include 18 sportsmen and women - the highest number ever and the maximum number that any country can share.
For the men, the team coach determined that the team will include former European champion Peter Pleczyk, competing in the weight category up to 100 kg, who has not yet stood on the podium in this championship. Former world champion Sagi Muki (81 kg) will also take part , while in 66 kg Baruch Shamailov and Tal Flicker, bronze medalists from 2015, will share. Also in the men's category: Tohar Botbul and Ido Levin (up to 73 kg), Yam Volchek and Matan Kokoliev (up to 60 kg) and Serafim A company that will compete at a weight over 100 kg.
For the women, the team led by Hershko, who had the best European Championship in history, will try to continue the momentum.
The competition will be attended by Shira Rini and Tamar Malka weighing up to 48 kg, and last year's bronze medalist Gafen Primo - up to 52 kg.
European champion Tamena Nelson Levy will participate in the weight category up to 57 kg, Gili Sharr and Kerem Primo will take part in the weight category up to 63 kg, Maya Goshen - up to 70 kg, Inbar Lanir - up to 78 kg and Raz Harshko over 78 kg C will complete the female staff.
Nelson Levy.
European champion, photo: Oren Aharoni
It should be remembered that in addition to the individual competition, Israel, the bronze medalist from the Tokyo Olympics, will also participate for the first time in the team competition, as first published in Israel Hayom.
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