An Israeli judo competitor, Sagi Muki, on Friday won the gold medal in the European Games in Baku, Azerbaijan, by defeating Georgian opponent Nugzari Tatalashvli in the 73-kilogram (161-pound) weight class. The win marks Israel’s first gold medal in that competition.
“I managed to grab the opponent after he made a mistake, and I scored an ippon (the highest score a competitor can achieve in a Japanese martial arts contest),” Muki told Sport TV. “I wasn’t in a rush, and I took advantage of the opportunity that I got. I’m ecstatic.”
Muki will be awarded $10,500 (40,000 shekels) from the Israeli Olympic Committee for his victory.