Israel’s women’s goalball team secured a silver medal at the Paris Paralympics, marking the country’s first Paralympic medal in a team sport since 1988 and its eighth at these Games.
The team faced a tough 8-3 defeat against Turkey in the gold medal game. Lihi Ben David, one of Israel’s Paralympic flag bearers alongside Oct. 7 survivor and wheelchair tennis player Adam Berdichevsky, played with a broken finger sustained during the team’s 2-1 victory over China in the semifinals.
After defeating Brazil in pool play and experiencing losses to Turkey and China in that stage, Israel bounced back with a 5-1 win against Canada in the quarterfinals, followed by a crucial victory over China to advance to the gold medal match.
Goalball, a handball-style sport for athletes with vision impairment, involves teams of three trying to throw a ball embedded with bells into their opponents’ goal.
Israel made its goalball debut at the 2016 Paralympics and had never reached a medal match until Thursday’s impressive achievement. This silver medal is Israel’s first in a team sport since the men’s volleyball team secured silver in 1988.
While political demonstrations are prohibited on the field of play at the Paralympics, subtle gestures such as wearing yellow ribbons in hair accessories have not violated any rules. During the semi-final match, several members of the goalball team sported yellow ribbons in solidarity with Israeli hostages, as reported by the Times of Israel. Similarly, Israeli judoka Inbar Lanir wore a yellow scrunchie during the Olympics last month as a symbolic gesture.
The women’s goalball team includes players like Ben David, Mahamid, Malka, Hamrani, Mizrahi, and Ohayon, who have shown immense dedication and pride in their performance.
Reflecting on the team’s success, Malka expressed her pride and emphasized the team’s belief in their capabilities. She highlighted the significance of representing Israel and showcasing their skills on an international platform.
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