Israeli taekwondo fighter A. Semberg (or Abishag Samberg, born September 16, 2001) goes by both names. During the 2020 Summer Olympics, she competed in the women’s 49 kg weight class and earned bronze for Israel.
At the tender age of 19, she became the youngest Israeli Olympic medalist in the country’s history. A. Semberg was born in Gedera, Israel to Israeli parents Oren Semberg and Nili Cohen-Semberg, who are both of Ashkenazi Jewish origin.
And also of Sephardi Jewish and Mizrahi Jewish (Moroccan-Jewish) descent. Her dad is a lawyer, thus she grew up in the profession.
First Tokyo Medal: A. Semberg Wins Taekwondo Bronze, Israel’s 1st in Field
On the first full day of the Olympics, an Israeli taekwondo fighter, A. Semberg, earned bronze in the women’s -49kg division. Giving the Jewish state its first Olympic medal and its first medal in the sport of taekwondo.
A. Semberg, only 19 years old, won 27-22 over Rukiye Yldrm of Turkey. Israel has now won Olympic medals in taekwondo, judo, canoeing, and sailing. First scoring in the first of three two-minute rounds, A. Semberg, Israel’s third female Olympic medalist, kept her lead throughout the second.
But in the third round, Yildirim passed her, setting up a suspenseful final round in which the Israeli regained the lead in the final 25 seconds.
To celebrate her victory, Yael Arad, an Israeli judoka who placed second at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, was the first Israeli athlete to earn an Olympic medal.
Minister of Culture and Sports Chili Tropper joined the party to cheer on the young athlete.
Olympics: Israeli A. Semberg Wins Bronze in Taekwondo
On Saturday during the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Israeli athlete A. Semberg won a bronze medal in taekwondo.
A. Semberg win, which comes in her Olympic debut at the tender age of 19, is the first medal for Israel in the Tokyo 2020 games.
In the fight for bronze, A. Semberg scored a 27-22 victory over Turkish competitor Rokia Yildirim in the under 49 kilogramme division.
A. Semberg received a phone call from President Isaac Herzog on Saturday evening, in which he congratulated her for “creating history” and “becoming an inspiration to many children in Israel.”
Conclusion
Israeli athlete A. Semberg defeated Rukiye Yildirim of Turkey in the Women’s Taekwondo 49kg bronze medal match on Saturday, becoming the country’s first Olympian medal winner in Tokyo. The country has now won 10 medals in all, and this is the first one in a sport other than Judo, windsurfing, or kayaking.
