Gili Sharir delivered a commanding performance for Israel at the Zagreb Grand Prix, capturing the gold medal in the under-63kg division after a relentless day of judo that showcased her precision, composure, and resilience.
Sharir, 25, opened the competition with a yuko victory over Spain’s Laura Vasquez Fernandez, followed by a win against Austria’s Lisa Ternjak that secured her place in the quarterfinals.
She then defeated Italy’s Carlotta Avanzato convincingly before entering one of the longest and most challenging bouts of her day, a semifinal against Britain’s Lucy Renshall that stretched nearly nine minutes into golden score.
Renshall eventually received a third penalty, sending Sharir into the final and guaranteeing her a medal.
The championship match against Poland’s Angelika Szymanska was similarly tight, decided only when the Polish judoka accumulated a third penalty in golden score. The win returned Sharir to the top of the world-tour podium and marked one of her strongest international showings to date.
Sharir wins judo gold: Hatikvah plays for Israeli pride
Sharir said the medal was the result of staying sharp and composed throughout a demanding day. “It was a challenging competition, and every fight demanded that I be at my peak,” she reflected after the victory.
“I was happy to show quality, determined, and precise judo, and bring a moment of pride to the State of Israel.”
She added that standing on the podium was an emotional highlight.
“To raise the Israeli flag and hear Hatikvah on the podium is a feeling like no other.”
Sharir expressed deep appreciation for those supporting her career and helping enable her return to top form.
“I want to thank the professional staff led by Shani Hershko, my family, my personal coach Eyal Becher, and Nati Kapri, my teammates, the Judo Federation headed by Moshe Ponte, and all who support me,” she said.
She also noted the importance of her sponsors, CyberArk, More Investment House, and Shikun & Binui, emphasizing that “your support is meaningful and an important part of my path.” Sharir concluded by saying she intends to carry the momentum forward. “I will keep pushing ahead to bring more honor to Israel.”
Israel national team coach Shani Hershko praised Sharir’s performance and its symbolic importance. He said her gold-medal return to the world-tour podium came “in the most impressive way, winning a gold medal,” adding that she demonstrated “exceptional ability, determination, and power,” providing “a moment of great pride as the flag was raised high on the international stage.”
Hershko stressed that such achievements, with Israel’s current stature globally, are especially meaningful.
“In these times, the moments when Hatikvah plays and the flag rises are more significant than ever.”
Hershko noted that the team is deep into structural preparations ahead of the 2026 Olympic qualification period, saying they remain fully committed to building a strong, professional squad capable of meeting the challenges ahead.
In the same weight category, Inbal Shemesh advanced to the bronze-medal match after wins against India’s Tokas and Croatia’s Nina Simic, and after defeating Slovakia’s Mazuzie in the repechage. She ultimately fell to Renshall in the fight for bronze.
Israeli athletes competed across additional divisions throughout the weekend. In the under-70kg category, Maya Goshen advanced to the second round after her Lebanese opponent was disqualified at the weigh-in to avoid facing an Israeli; she then lost to Italy’s Irene Pedrouti.
Maya Kogan defeated Slovakia’s Ema Pizilova in the opening round before losing to Croatia’s Lara Cvjetko in the second.
In the men’s competitions, Yonatan Elbaz (under-73kg) lost in the first round to Benjamin Levy, while Yonatan Wexler and Ariel Shulman represented Israel in the under-60kg division.
Wexler was defeated in the second round by Italy’s De Angelo, and Shulman opened with a win over Zahra of Malta before falling to France’s Legiao by penalties. In the under-66kg division, Yam Wolczak lost his first-round match to Chinese Taipei’s Chung Yu Lin, and Eran Fix was beaten by ippon by Austria’s Marcus Auer.
Sharir’s gold-medal run stood out as the defining achievement for the Israeli delegation, marking a powerful moment of national pride and an encouraging sign as the team looks ahead to the upcoming Olympic qualification cycle.