Israel Takes Gold and Silver at Jiu-Jitsu and Sambo World Championships

Israeli martial artists made headlines this weekend with a pair of remarkable performances at two world championships, securing a gold medal in jiu-jitsu and a silver in sambo affirming Israel's rising stature in global martial arts.

In Bangkok, Thailand, Omri Haviv clinched the gold medal in the 69kg No-Gi category at the Jiu-Jitsu World Championships. Battling through four intense matches to reach the final, Haviv showcased exceptional technical prowess and calm under pressure. Facing a formidable opponent from Kazakhstan, Haviv maintained a narrow points lead until the final seconds, when an illegal kick led to his opponent’s disqualification sealing the win for Israel.

“This is an incredible achievement for Omri and for Israeli jiu-jitsu,” said Erez Elroy, chairman of the Israel Jiu-Jitsu Federation. “Hearing Hatikvah on the podium is a moment we’ll never forget.”

Meanwhile, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Shaked Nisimian demonstrated extraordinary determination at the Sambo World Championships. Despite enduring a 24-hour airport ordeal due to flight delays and missed connections, Nisimian took to the mat without rest. Her grit paid off after a first-round bye, she knocked out her Kazakh opponent and defeated an Uzbek rival to reach the final, where she claimed a silver medal after facing a top-tier Russian competitor.

“Shaked proved once again that she’s a true champion,” said Shai Geizinger, CEO of the Israel Sambo Federation. “Despite exhaustion and jet lag, she brought home a silver medal an amazing feat.”

The Israeli delegation also introduced two promising 19-year-olds making their senior debuts: Yanai Kadosh and Vladi Polotsky, both from Otzma Bat Yam. Kadosh exited early against the eventual gold medalist, while Polotsky secured one win and placed seventh overall.

Arik Kaplan, president of the Ayelet Federation for Non-Olympic Sports, praised the accomplishments as a sign of Israel’s growing prominence in martial arts. “Shaked has shown she’s among the world’s elite. These results reflect the upward momentum of Israeli non-Olympic sports.”

With champions rising in both jiu-jitsu and sambo, Israel is proving itself not just as a competitor but as a nation to watch on the mats and podiums of the world.

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