Israeli judoka Inbar Lanir on Friday won a gold medal at the World Judo Championships being held in Doha, Qatar.
Lanir defeated France”s Audrey Tcheumeo in the finals of the 78-kilogram weight class.
Lanir, 23, became the third Israeli to win the World Championship, after Yarden Gerbi in 2013 and Sagi Muki in 2019.
She later said she was dedicating her win to the Israelis who were forced into bomb shelters this week due to the rocket fire from Gaza.
“I”m happy to dedicate my medal to the residents of the south who are going through a difficult period, to IDF soldiers and to all the State of Israel,” said Lanir. “It was so important for me to do something good during such complex and difficult days, and I”m happy and satisfied that I succeeded.”

Thanks to Lanir”s win, Israel”s national anthem, Hatikvah, was heard on Qatari soil during the medal ceremony.
While Qatar permitted Israelis to attend the World Cup which was held in the country late last year, some Israelis who attended experienced a hostile environment.

Despite Qatar”s unprecedented openness allowing Israelis to visit the country for the World Cup, Israel”s Foreign Ministry launched a campaign to urge Israelis to exercise caution, particularly given the presence of Iran, which routinely calls for violence against Israel, at the World Cup.
(Israel National News’ North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Israel National News articles, however, is Israeli time.)