Israeli Judoka Timna Nelson-Levy Snatches Gold at European Judo Championships

Israeli judokas Timna Nelson-Levy and Shira Rishony won a gold and bronze medal respectively at the European Judo Championships in Bulgaria on Friday.

Nelson-Levy beat France's Sarah-Léonie Cysique in the 57-kilogram weight category for women and scored a waza-ari – the second highest-scoring move possible – in under two minutes, securing her victory.

Nelson-Levy is the second female Israeli judoka to win at the European Championships after Yael Arad took a bronze in 1993.

Rishony won a bronze this year while competing in the 48-kilogram weight category. After losing in the semifinals, she recovered in the battle for the bronze, beating Italy's Francesca Milani. This is Rishony's first medal at the European Championships.

Israel's Gefen Primo lost a chance at a bronze in the 52-kilogram weight category after she reached the semifinals.

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For the men, Baruch Smailov lost a chance at a bronze and ended up fifth in the 66-kilogram weight category. In that class, Tal Flicker qualified for the quarterfinals but failed to win a medal.