Innsbruck / New York (Inn)-Israel won the silver medal in Innsbruck at the Junior European Championship in Flag Football. In the final, the Israeli boys lost Spain on Sunday with 14:34. It was the third final participation in a U-17 European Championship in a row. The Israelis had taken the two last times gold.
At this year’s tournament, Israel delivered a sparkling clean preliminary round: the team won their group games against Switzerland, Germany, Finland and host Austria. In the semifinals she achieved a scarce 47: 46 victory against the Czech Republic.
Head coach Gideon stimulus said after the final: “We were unable to do what was necessary for a win. But we still had a great time at this tournament and at least returned with a silver medal.” The Israeli girls had not qualified for the EM. Israel took 6th place at the Mixed tournament of the U-15 teams.
Flag football is faster and more strategy than the well -known sport of American football, there is no physical contact. In the summer of 2028, Flag Football in Los Angeles is in the Olympic program for the first time.
Association chief looks at Olympics
The chairman of the Israeli Association for American Football, Steve Leibowitz, confidently commented: “Today’s U-17 players will be about 20 years old for Los Angeles in 2028. Our journey to the Olympic Games is now beginning. A silver medal in Europe, after two golden, is an impressive result and we learn from every game.”
From September 25th to 27th, the Israeli men’s senior team will compete at the European Championship in Paris. “A placement of the top 6 will be crucial there to keep our Olympic dream alive,” said Leibowitz.
Israeli wheelchair tennis player wins in New York
The Israeli wheelchair tennis player Guy Sasson also experienced a success at the weekend: Together with the Dutch Niels Vink, he defeated Chilenen Fransisco CayULEF and the Argentinier Gonzalo Enrique Lazarte in the double final of the US Open in New York 6: 1 and 6: 4.
Sasson was inferior to his partner Vink in the semi -finals a few hours earlier. When asked how challenging it is to compete against his double partner, he said: “We are used to it. I think we usually meet in every big tournament and Grand Slam. Then one of us wins and we have to share the space.”
The 45-year-old Israeli has been paralyzed below his knees since a snowboard accident in the Alps ten years ago. This year he already won the French Open and the Grand Slam tournament in Wimbledon with Vink. At the Paralympic Games in Paris in 2024, he won bronze medal.
Eurobasket: Israel excreted against Greece
The Israeli basketball men were less successful: at the European Championship, they lost the round of 16 against Greece on Sunday in the Latvian capital Riga. In the first two quarters, the Israelis were inferior to their opponents, in the third and fourth quarter they caught up. However, this was not enough to prevent the 79: 84 defeat.
In the group phase, the Israelis had won against Iceland, France and Belgium. They collected defeats against Poland and Slovenia.
Abuses on the tour of the Spain
The cyclists of the “Israel Premier Tech” team are experiencing unsportsmanlike behavior of pro-Palestinian spectators these days at Vuelta a España. This meant that those responsible removed the lettering “Israel” for the rest of the Spain tour from the racing dress.
The Vuelta started on August 23 in Turin Italian and ends on September 14th in the Spanish capital Madrid. During the 5th of 21 stages in Figueres, demonstrators blocked the team during team time trial. At the 10th stage, activists ran into the field and caused a fall.
The 11th stage to Bilbao had to end 3 kilometers before the finish and was neutralized, so there was no winner. Only the times were evaluated for the overall result. The reason for the decision of the competitive management was security concerns because numerous activists with Palestinian flags were in the finish area. Many police officers were on duty.
There was another attack on Friday in Asturia: activists stopped the main field when an increase. The race had to be interrupted for 30 seconds.
“Israel” lettering from jerseys removed
On Saturday, “Israel Premier Tech” announced to X that the “Israel” lettering was “removed” for the security of our drivers and the entire field in view of the dangerous nature of some protests “. The logo based on the Davidstern, on the other hand, remains and the name is not changed.
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares (Socialist Party) has called for an exclusion from the Israeli team. Such a step should send a “message” to Israel, as before in Russia, which is currently excluded from most international sporting events due to the war of aggression against Ukraine.
Once Israeli footballer sympathizes with flotilla
A former Israeli U-21 national game national player, however, expressed sympathy with a flotilla that is currently on the way to the Gaza Strip from Spain. The Swedish activist Greta Thunberg is also on board. The athlete, Ataa Dschaber, shared a contribution by the Qatarian broadcaster “Al-Jasira”, as reported by the “Jerusalem Post”.
He comes from a Muslim Israeli family. He began his career at Maccabi Haifa’s youth team. He also played for other Israeli clubs, including for Bnei Sachnin and FC Aschdod.
In the summer of 2023 he moved to the Palestinian national team. The 30-year-old is under contract with the Katar sports club in Doha. (eh)
