On 10 October 2026, Israeli judoka Raz Hershko won the bronze medal in the women’s +78 kg category at the World Judo Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan. Hershko entered the competition as the world No. 1 and top seed in her category, and fought her way through to the semi-finals after victories over Chinese Taipei’s Ling Fang Chang, Estonia’s Emma-Melis Aktas and Brazil’s Beatriz Souza.
Hershko was defeated by South Korea’s Lee Hyeonji in the semi-final, sending her into the bronze-medal contest against Croatia’s Helena Vuković. The deciding contest went to Golden Score after four minutes without a winner. Hershko then produced an ippon with a seoi-otoshi to secure the bronze — her second World Championship medal.
The result adds another major achievement to an already impressive international career. Hershko won Olympic silver at the Paris 2024 Games, and the IJF records multiple World Championship, Masters, Grand Slam and European Championship medals among her career results.
For Israeli sport, Hershko’s performance in Baku is another reminder of the country's strength in judo — and of the determination required to compete at the very highest level of international sport.