1) Israeli swimmer Gal Nevo announced his retirement today from active competition at the age of 31. His greatest achievement in the pool was winning the silver medal in the 200 meter individual medley at European Championships in London 2016. Nevo also represented the Blue & White at 3 Olympic Games, 2008 Beijing, London 2012 and Rio 2016.

“I was able to succeed because I did what I was told and I always listened. Luckily, I had a long list of intelligent people whom I listened to and only a foot wouldn’t listen top them. I want to thank my parents who were always there for me. Even when I didn’t want to train they pushed me.” His post career plans, “I will be working on a start-up in the world of competitive swimming with the goal of brining something new to the sport I love.”

2) Hapoel Beer Sheva held their prematch press conference ahead of Tuesday’s (18:30 Israel time) Champions League first round first leg qualifier against Flora Tallinn in Estonia. Head Coach Barak Bachar spoke about the clash, “We are preparing as throughly as possible as we always do for every match. This is a team that is the middle of their domestic season and we were able to watch them. We will prepare as best as we can. We have some players that are missing, some are injured and one just returned from the World Cup. However, we have a good enough squad and we will do everything in our power to come home with a good result.”

Defender Ben Bitton added, “It’s our first match of the season and it’s exciting. It’s important to start off well and we will come focused and ready to go.”

3) The Israel Under-20 Basketball team will head to the European Championships in Chemnitz, Germany that begin on July 14th. Head Coach Ariel Beit Halachmi spoke about the upcoming competition, “Everyone is quite quiet, but they are a group of lions. I am very excited and we held a lengthy camp. I wouldn’t try to compare this team to last year’s but we have plenty of quality. The players who were on the side of last season’s tournament are now at center stage. The goal is to play well and win as much as possible. If we come play like we have in training then I’m optimistic. There are players here that can help upgrade the senior national team as well.”

Yovel Zoosman who played this past season with Maccabi Tel Aviv and will be an integral part of this team looked ahead to the championships, “I am just one of the players and of course I’ll do what the coach asks of me. We want to go as far as we can.”

4) NBA Summer League
Egor Koulechov recorded a DNP for the Orlando Magic.
Bogdan Bliznyuk of Bnei Herzliya was a DNP for the LA Clippers.
Kendrick Ray of Maccabi Tel Aviv scored 6 points and added 3 assists in 20 minutes for the Jazz.
TJ Cline of Hapoel Holon scored 2 points in 13 minutes of action for the Bucks

Basketball Quick Hits – Maccabi Tel Aviv BC will open up their Euroleague campaign on Thursday October 11 in Greece against Panathinaikos…Veteran point guard and Israel National Team player Avi Ben Chimol joins Hapoel Eilat after spending last season with Maccabi Rishon Le’Zion…Guard Nimrod Tishman signs with Maccabi Rishon Le’Zion…Center Alex Chubrevich signed a 2-year deal with Hapoel Jerusalem after playing with Maccabi Ashdod last year…Point guard Iftach Ziv reups with Nahariya for the upcoming campaign…Forward Terry Allen who went to Richmond joins Nahariya after playing professionally for BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque in France and in Hungary for BC Körmend…

Soccer Quick Hits – Maccabi Tel Aviv FC revealed their 2018/19 Home Kit bringing back vertical Yellow & Blue stripes…Winger Ahmed Abed joined Hapoel Tel Aviv signing a 3-year deal…Central defender Alban Pnishi from Kosovo will play for Bnei Sakhnin for the upcoming season…Midfielder Roie Gordana will play in Croatia this coming season for NK Slaven Belupo…The city of Ashdod announced plans to build a new 16,000 seat stadium…Eli Babayev who played last season for Hapoel Raanana joins Sumqayit in Azerbaijan…Hapoel Haifa and Kiryat Shemona drew 3:3 in a preseason friendly…Dudu Bitton joined Ashdod…