Silver medal for Maya Bachar at the Jiu-Jitsu World Championship

20-year-old Maya Bachar won a silver medal at the Adult Jiu-Jitsu World Championship, held in Abu Dhabi, in her debut appearance in the adult category. Bachar reached the final match, where she faced the world champion from the UAE. The fight was close and was decided only in the final seconds.

Alongside her, Noga Reshef finished in fifth place in the weight category up to 63 kg, and Maya Dai was ranked fifth in the weight up to 52 kg.

Mark Lipetz, Omri Habib, and Meitar Rosenfeld also finished in fifth place, after losing in the semi-finals at the end of a day of fighting against the world's top jiu-jitsu athletes. Tomorrow, the athletes in the higher weight categories will compete on the final day of the World Championship.

Erez Alroy, President of the Israel Jiu-Jitsu Association, said:

"Maya made a very impressive transition to the adult category. She arrived prepared, managed her fights correctly, and competed in an even final against an experienced and decorated opponent. The rest of the team members also displayed high ability, fought with determination, and were very close to winning medals. These achievements are the result of long-term professional work, and we thank the coaching staff that prepares and accompanies the team throughout the championship."

Arik Kaplan, President and CEO of the "Ilan" Association, the umbrella organization for non-Olympic sports, added:

"A silver medal at the Adult World Championship is an achievement that brings great honor to Israeli sports. We have already seen gold and heard the 'Hatikvah' anthem with the youth, and we will keep our fingers crossed for tomorrow. The 'Ilan' Association will continue to stand by the association and the athletes and enable them to represent the country with pride in the most important arenas in the world."