Mixed bag again for Israel at the Paris Olympics

Jul 31, 2024 | Jews in Sports

It was another mixed day of results for Israel at the Paris Olympics. The Under-23 Israel Olympic Soccer Team fell to Japan 1-0 on Mao Hosoya’s 90th minute goal and were eliminated from the tournament.

“I am very disappointed,” Israel head coach Guy Luzon began. “I think that when the score was 0-0 we were very close to scoring a goal, but I would have been even more disappointed and really felt bad for the guys had we not done everything that they could to succeed. The guys wanted to score throughout the tournament and to defend to the best of their abilities. They did the best that they could.”

NANTES, FRANCE – JULY 30: Players of Team Isreal pose for a team photo prior to the Men’s group D match between Israel and Japan during the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de la Beaujoire on July 30, 2024 in Nantes, France. (Photo by Eddie Keogh – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)


“We played against the Asian champions in Japan as well as against Mali and Paraguay, three fantastic opponents and if they finished ahead of us they probably deserved it. I’m very proud of the guys and our journey to the Games. Japan is one of the best teams in the world for players that are Under-23 and they are a squad that has it all. They are dynamic, organized and physical, everything one would want and expect from a soccer team. There were minutes when we were equivalent to them but unfortunately the better team won. The goal they scored was because we gambled and wanted to go for the victory, it may be that if we hadn’t gambled it would have ended in a draw, but it doesn’t matter at this point.”

The bench boss continued, “We did everything we could to make the people of our nation happy, even though we didn’t get the results. They’re proud of us and I’m proud of them. It’s the saddest thing in the world to depart a tournament like this because we’re leaving what is in fact a dream, we’ve been in a dream for the past two weeks.”

Starlet Oscar Gloukh also reflected on the game, “We appreciate every moment we were here and that’s how we will now continue on. We started well and after that we relaxed a bit and they dominated. In the second half we had to take advantage of the situations and if we did we we would have won. We are worth more than the one point we collected in the three games and in every single match we were there, we were in it. Now everyone will go their own way. I had the most fun in the world, thanks to the team and the players.”

The Israel Football Association Chairman Moshe Zuarets spoke to the entire team and said, “After 48 years we participated in the Olympics thanks to all of you. Be proud of what you have done for Israeli soccer. Each and every one of you – players, the professional team, everyone – have been part of such a wonderful journey. You are the future of Israeli soccer and you will make a better future for all if us. I’m proud of you and you should be proud of yourselves.”

Shachar Sagiv – Photo credit: Israel Olympic Committee


Shachar Sagiv was Israel’s representative in the Triathlon which had been postponed by a day due to the pollution in the Seine River, however, the extra day did not help his showing as he finished in 37th out of 50 participants overall with a time of 1:49:32.

In Tahiti, Anat Lelior’s 3rd round of Women’s Surfing matchup against Tyler Wright from Australia who is not only the two-time World Champion in 2016 and 2017 but also finished ahead of Lelior in round 1 is slated to take place in the middle of the night in Israel.

On the Judo mat Maya Goshen won her first bout in the -70kg category over Fidel Ogel of Turkey but then fell to Marie Eve Gahie of France in the Round of 16. Two potential medal chances in Peter Paltchik and Inbar Lanir will be in action on Thursday morning.

In Badminton, Misha Zilberman defeated Prince Dahal of Nepal 21-10 in his final group stage game but didn’t advance out of group stage.

David Gerchik – Photo credit: Israel Olympic Committee


Over in the pool, David Gerchik who finished 22nd overall in the men’s 200m Backstroke with a time of 1:58.79 and didn’t advance to the semifinals. On Thursday, israel will be very busy competing in five different events.

In Archery, Mikaela Moshe who had finished in 18th place in the Women’s Individual Ranking Round with 660 points but then fell 7-1 against Madalina Amaistroaie from Romania in the 1/32 Elimination Round. Over on the Men’s side, Roy Dror will be competing on Thursday.

Mikaela Moshe – Photo credit: Israel Olympic Committee


Israeli Windsurfers Sharon Kantor and Tom Reuveny tried to get into the sea in Marseille but once again inclement weather kept them at bay as the competition will continue tomorrow.

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