Shmailov: "I'm happy that I won gold in the eyes of the Israeli audience" | Israel today

Baruch Shamailov made history today (Tuesday), after becoming the first Israeli ever to win the gold medal in the Masters Judo competition.

After 6 silver medals and another 7 bronze medals, Shmailov won in front of the home crowd, in the competition held in Jerusalem.

This is also the fourth medal in Shamailov's career in the prestigious competition that concludes the year with the 36 best athletes in each weight, as he is also expected to jump several places in the world ranking and be in the top three.

Competing in the weight category up to 66 kg, Shmailov met the 26-year-old French Dakil Bubba in the fight for the title when, after 2 minutes, he achieved Vasari, which he kept until the end.

Baruch Shmailov celebrates gold at the Jerusalem Masters, photo: Oren Aharoni

"I'm happy," said the new champion at the end. "Always when I come to the Masters I want to win this competition because it's the strongest and it's always at the end of the season, so I come to it with all my might.

I am happy that this is my fourth medal in this tournament and that this is the first gold for an Israeli.

I am happy that it happened in front of the Israeli audience, my wife and my family.

The crowd in the hall strengthened me and gave me strength on the way to winning the gold."

The one who was close to the medal was Geffen Primo (52 kg), who was only stopped in the battle for the bronze, against the Italian Odette Goffrida, the bronze medalist from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the silver from Rio 2016, ranked 9th in the world, when at the end of a 9-minute battle, she received a third penalty and finished in fifth place overall.

With tears in her eyes, Primo said: "The feelings are hard. It's not easy for me with the loss in this competition and it hurts a lot, but there's nothing I can do. The most important thing is still ahead of me, I know I'm on the right path."

Baruch Shmailov celebrates gold at the Jerusalem Masters, photo: Oren Aharoni

Minister of Culture and Sports Hili Trooper: "Congratulations to Judoka Baruch Shamailov for winning the gold medal in the Jerusalem Masters tournament that started today."

Shamailov once again proves to be an excellent athlete and brings us all great pride.

Congratulations to all the participants in the important competition and good luck in the continuation in the next two days."

Samadja with Baruch Shamailov.

Celebrating gold at the Jerusalem Masters, photo: Oren Aharoni

On the second day of the tournament, the following will participate: up to 63 kg Gili Sharr, Inbal Shemesh and Kerem Primo, up to 70 kg Maya Goshen, Maya Kogan, up to 73 kg Tohar Botbol and Ido Levin and up to 81 kg Sagi Muki and Petah Badash.

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