Gerbi in action
Israelis fall short at Judo world championships
Former gold medalist Yarden Gerbi falls to fifth place as Lior Wilidikan loses in quarter-finals, heads for fight for the bronze.
KAZAKHSTAN - Israeli athletes noted significant achievements this over the past few days at the 2015 Judo World Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan, but fell short of nabbing the highly coveted gold medals in any weight class.
Wilidikan also faced and defeated an Ecuadorian and Laura Vargas Koch, 2013's silver medalist from Germany. The Israeli Joduka will now continue on to compete for the bronze.
Gerbi was named world champion in 2013 and took home the silver medal in 2014 after losing to Claric Agbegnenou from France. Agbegnenou also defeated Gerbi in the semi-finals on Thursday.
Lior Wilidikan qualified Friday for the quarter finals of her weight class (70 kilograms), but lost to her Japanese opponent Chizuru Arai. The loss came after Wilidikan had defeated both María Pérez from Puerto Rico and Chao Jin from China.
Lior Wilidikan (right) lost in the quarter finals to her opponent from Japan (Photo: Oren Aharoni)
Former World Champion from Israel, Yarden Gerbi, also finished disappointed in fifth place in her weight class despite starting strong and reaching the semi-finals on Thursday.
Gerbi shows her dissapointment after losing the bronze medal (Photo: Oren Aharoni)
