Alice Schlesinger Named Sambo Legend as Israeli Athletes Win Bronze in Tashkent
Israeli athlete Alice Schlesinger was named a sambo legend at the World Championships in Tashkent, while sisters Shaked and Roni Nisimian won bronze medals.
Israeli sambo champion Alice Schlesinger has been named one of the 25 greatest sambo legends of all time during the World Sambo Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Representing the Otzma Rishon LeZion club, Schlesinger received special recognition at a ceremony held during the 50th World Championships, which brought together over 1,000 athletes from 101 countries.
A four-time Olympic judoka and three-time sambo world champion, Schlesinger expressed deep emotion over the accolade.
«I am proud of the path I have taken, the achievements I brought to Israel and to the city of Rishon LeZion, and the privilege of being part of the sport's history on the international stage. Arriving here today as a mother of three young children waiting for me at home makes this moment even more meaningful,» Schlesinger stated.
Alongside Schlesinger's personal honor, clubmates and sisters Shaked and Roni Nisimian claimed bronze medals for Israel. Roni Nisimian secured her podium finish by defeating opponents from Mongolia and the Philippines before falling to a local competitor in the semifinal. Her sister Shaked, the 2025 World Games champion, advanced directly to the quarterfinals where she overcame an Uzbek opponent, but subsequently lost in the semifinal to Russia's Polyakova.
Despite the two bronze medals, the Israeli delegation expressed a degree of disappointment regarding the final gold-medal count. Pavel Mussin, head coach at Otzma Rishon LeZion and Schlesinger's husband, reflected on the tournament's outcomes.
«Despite the medals, we finish the competition with a certain sense of disappointment. We went through an excellent preparation period, arriving ready and with high ambitions. Our goal was clear—to play the national anthem of Israel at the World Championships. Unfortunately, we did not manage to meet that target this time,» Mussin noted.
Mussin emphasized that the Israeli team will continue to train hard and improve to maintain the country's leading position in international sambo.
