Israeli judoka Sagi Muki won first place in the European Senior Judo Championships 2018 in Tel Aviv on Friday, closely defeating Sami Chouchi from Belgium just seconds before a sudden-death match was declared.
Unlike in recent martial-arts matches in Muslim countries, the Israeli anthem “Hatikva” was played as Muki was awarded the medal. Muki will receive a NIS 40,000 prize (more than $11,000) from the joint fund of the Israel Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Culture and Sport, and the Sports Betting Board.
Israelis Tal Flicker, Peter Paltchik and Gefen Primo also won bronze medals at the event.
The competition began on Friday with a minute of silence in memory of the 10 Israeli teenagers killed in flash floods in southern Israel the previous day.
“We bow our heads and share in the pain of the difficult loss of the boys and girls, the best of our children, who were killed in the terrible disaster,” said Culture and Sports Minister Miri Regev.
