Israel's judo team makes history, claiming bronze at Tokyo Olympics

Wins by Nelson-Levy, Muki, Hershko and Paltchik hand Israel second medal of competition in consolation round against team competing under banner of Russian Olympic Committee; victory marred by decision to award medal to just 11 of 12-strong team as Cohen not registered for final round

Oren Aharoni|

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TOKYO - Israel's mixed judo team on Saturday won bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the country's second in the competition.  
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The Israeli judokas who beat the team competing under the banner of Russian Olympic Committee included Tohar Butbul, Raz Hershko, Li Kochman, Inbar Lanir, Sagi Muki, Timna Nelson-Levy, Peter Paltchik, Shira Rishony, Ori Sasson, Baruch Shmailov and Gili Sharir.
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Israel's judo team show off their bronze medals at the Tokyo Olympics 
(Photo: Oreh Aharoni)
The team won the medal by a score of 4:1 in the consolation round. 
The medal was secured with when Nelson-Levy won her bout, after Muki, Hershko and Paltchik also saw off their Russian opponents. 
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Members of Israel's judo team celebrate their bronze medals on Saturday 
(Photo: Oren Aharoni)
The win comes after an otherwise rocky tournament for the Israeli judo delegation, whose sport is extremely popular in Israel.  
Earlier this week an official in the delegation lamented the "collapse" of the team at the Games, which he described as a "massive failure."  Conclusions would have to be drawn when the team returned to Israel, he said. 
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Members of Israel's judo team celebrate their bronze medals on Saturday 
(Photo: Oren Aharoni)
The win was somewhat marred by the fact that only 11 of the 12-strong team leaves the Games with a medal. 
The 12th member of the team, Gili Cohen, was not registered for Saturday's competition and sat in the stands as the rest of the Israeli judokas went up on the podium to receive their medals.
The Israeli delegation appealed the decision not to award a medal to Cohen as well, but the appeal was rejected. 
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Gili Cohen, right, fighting at the Tokyo Olympics this week 
(Photo: AP)
Three other members of the team did not fight on Saturday but were still awarded meals as they had been registered for the competition. 
Cohen will still receive the NIS 50,000 bonus awarded to the rest of the national judo delegation, the Israeli media reported.   
The medal is Israel's 11th overall at the Olympics; the 10th was won this year by 19-year-old Avishag Semberg in Women's Taekwondo 49kg. 