Israel Takes Home Seven Medals at Kickboxing World Championships in Abu Dhabi

The Israeli national kickboxing team returned from the World Kickboxing Championships in Abu Dhabi with seven medals, marking one of the delegation’s most successful international outings to date. The event, which drew over 2,000 athletes from approximately 85 nations, saw Israel shine on the global stage with one gold, two silvers, and four bronze medals.

Leading the charge was Yulia Sachkov in the 52 kg category. The 26-year-old powerhouse claimed gold after defeating her Czech opponent in the final, adding to an already remarkable year in which she captured both the European Championship and World Games titles. Sachkov’s triple triumph firmly places her among the world’s elite in her sport.

In the 75 kg division, Osayd Gouda fought through injury to claim silver. Despite sustaining a hand injury during the tournament, Gouda the reigning World Games champion continued to compete with determination and reached the final, where he fell to a Spanish fighter.

Yosef Aybezli also stood tall for Israel, earning silver in a closely contested bout against an Azerbaijani opponent.

Additional medalists included Polina Grossman (72 kg), a former World Games silver medalist who added a bronze to her collection, alongside Osid Khatib (67 kg), Guy Hajaj (73.5 kg), and Rana Matanes (60 kg), each of whom reached the podium with strong third-place finishes.

Arik Kaplan, president of the AYELET Federation for non-Olympic sports, praised the delegation’s success. “An excellent championship for our athletes. Everyone arrived prepared, invested tremendous effort, and delivered impressive results,” he said. “We are proud of them, and we will continue moving forward.”

Israel Kickboxing Federation president Hani Sakas echoed the sentiment. “I am happy that we were able to bring so much pride to the State of Israel. Our team’s achievements are the result of relentless work by both the athletes and their coaches throughout the year.”

With each punch, kick, and medal, Israel’s athletes continue to prove that excellence knows no boundaries. From Abu Dhabi to the world stage, they are building not just victories but a legacy.

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