only almost. The second day of the judo competitions at the Olympic Games in Paris 2024 started today (Sunday), when, just like yesterday, this time Israel has representation in both men and women. Gefen Primo, who competes in the women’s category up to 52 kg, was close to getting her first Israeli medal, but succumbed in the opening fight at Beit HaNichuim and ended her journey.
Seventh-ranked Primo started off on the right foot with a win in Ipon against South Korea’s Jung Yerin, ranked 21st in the world. In the second match, she got Vasari with a minute to go and thus defeated the 16th ranked Binta Andiaye from Switzerland.
The obstacle that awaited her in the quarter-finals was quite high – Dystrya Krasnicki ranked 2 in the world. The Kosovar defeated Primo with an Ipon after less than two minutes and sent the Israeli to the consolation house. Now Primo needs two wins to win the bronze medal.
In the first fight in the consolation house, Hungary’s Reka Pop was waiting for Primo, who surrendered by bolt in less than a minute and lost a chance to win a medal.
Gefen Primo breaks down in tears, Photo: Oren Aharoni Gefen Primo loses at the comfort house in Paris, Gefen Primo, Photo: Oren Aharoni Gefen Primo at the end of the first fight, Photo: Oren Aharoni Gefen Primo in the round of 16, Gefen Primo and Shani Hershko, Photo: Oren Aharoni Gefen Primo After the loss in the quarterfinals, photo: Oren Aharoni, Israel Ketoreza also came to cheer at the judo hall in Paris, photo: Oren Aharoni The Israeli crowd at the judo hall in Paris, photo: Oren Aharoni
Earlier Baruch Shamailov, unlike Primo, ended his way in the round of 16. In the first round he met Abderrahman Bushita from Morocco, and the 24th ranked in the world defeated the 28th ranked with Vozari in the last half minute. At the end of the fight there was an incident when Bushita refused to shake Shamailov’s hand.
His next opponent, Nurali Amomali of Tajikistan, came into the fight as a favorite but was only able to defeat Shamailov with a gold-scoring vazari. Similar to his predecessor, the seventh ranked also did not shake the hand of his Israeli opponent.
The two fights were particularly exciting because the coach of the men’s team, Oren Samadja, became a coach for the first time since his late son Omar fell in the Gaza Strip over a month ago. Yesterday, the person who coached Yam Volchak in both fights was Samadja’s assistant, Golan Polak .
Baruch Shamailov in front of Abdurrahman Bushita, photo: Oren Aharoni Abdurrahman Bushita from Morocco refuses to shake Baruch Shamailov’s hand, photo: Oren Aharoni Oren Samadja with Baruch Shamailov, Baruch Shamailov, photo: Oren Aharoni Norali Amomali after subduing Baruch Shamailov, photo: Oren Aharoni Nourali Amomali after defeating Baruch Shamailov, photo: Oren Aharoni Judo Union chairman Moshe Ponti watches tensely, photo: Oren Aharoni
Meanwhile, Ofer Ben Zvi became the first Israeli in history to judge the judo competitions at the Olympic Games.
Israeli judo judge Ofer Ben Zvi at the Olympic Games, photo: Oren Aharoni Israeli judo judge Ofer Ben Zvi at the Olympic Games, photo: Oren Aharoni
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The Olympic flag is raised at the opening ceremony / Reuters
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