From the Liveblog of
Thursday, September 5, 2024
Israeli women fall to powerhouse Turkey in Paralympic goalball final after historic run
Amy Spiro is a reporter and writer with The Times of Israel
Israel’s women’s goalball team falls to Turkey 8-3 in the 2024 Paris Paralympics final, clinching a silver medal, its first-ever podium finish in the sport.
Israel beat China in the semifinal to advance to the gold medal match, after besting Canada in the quarterfinal.
Israel has never won a goalball medal before, after sending a team to both Rio in 2016 and Tokyo in 2021. Turkey’s women’s team won gold at both of those Paralympics.
In the sport, which is played exclusively by those with visual impairments, the athletes play three at a time, throwing and attempting to block a ball which is embedded with bells.
The six-woman team is made up of Lihi Ben David, 28; Elham Mahamid, 34; Noa Malka, 21; Gal Hamrani, 31; Or Mizrahi, 31; and Roni Ohayon, 25.
Ben David was playing with a broken finger sustained during yesterday’s semifinal match.
The Times of Israel Community.