Israel’s goalball team beats Brazil 8:4 in opening match at Paralympics

Israel’s goalball team wins its opening match 8-4 in the group stage against Brazil at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.

The Israeli team — comprised of Lihi Ben David, Elham Mahamid, Noa Malka, Gal Hamrani, Or Mizrahi and Roni Ohayon, who are all visually impaired — will face Turkey’s team tomorrow, and China on Sunday.

The members of the Israeli team wear yellow ribbons in their hair, as homage to the hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza.

Ben David tells Israel’s Sports5 broadcaster following the win that in the team’s first game, they were “feeling the atmosphere, the crowd, the field — every game isn’t easy but we have something to offer and we’ve started.”

Malka adds that the team is “sure of ourselves and what we have to give — we’re starting in the group stage and ramping up every game.”