Israeli Judoka Raz Hershko Wins Gold Medal at Budapest Grand Slam
Israeli judoka Raz Hershko secured a gold medal at the 2026 Budapest Grand Slam, defeating France's Célia Cancan in the women's +78 kg final.
Jerusalem, 13 September, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Israeli judoka Raz Hershko captured gold at the 2026 Budapest Grand Slam, defeating France’s Célia Cancan in the women’s +78 kg final with a powerful o-soto-gari throw for ippon.
The Paris 2024 Olympic silver medalist, ranked No. 2 in the world entering the tournament, claimed her seventh career Grand Slam title after another dominant run through the field.
The victory adds to a remarkable 2026 season in which Hershko has already won the European championship, the Tbilisi Grand Slam and the Upper Austria Grand Prix.
Her triumph capped a strong weekend for Israel in Budapest, after 18-year-old Izhak Ashpiz also won gold in the men’s under-60 kg division on the tournament’s opening day.