Israeli Para Taekwondo Athlete Wins Israel’s First Gold in 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris

Israeli para taekwondo athlete Asaf Yasur secured Israel’s first win at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris when he won the gold medal on Thursday in the under-58 kg category in the men’s K44 disability class.

Yasur, 22, beat Turkish athlete Ali Can Ozcan 19-12 in the finals while making his Paralympic debut at the Grand Palais on the first full day of the Paralympic Games. The Israeli athlete previously won gold in the same category at the World Para Taekwondo Championships in 2021 and 2023 and a silver at the 2023 European Para Championships. His win on Thursday is also Israel’s first-ever taekwondo gold at the Paralympic Games.

Yasur won his quarterfinal match against Thailand’s Thanwa Kaenkham 23-6 and had a 16-6 win against Taiwan’s Xiang Wen Xiao in the semifinal. He wore a kippah during the medal ceremony on Thursday and was joined on the podium by Ozcan, as well as bronze medallists Sabir Zeynalov of Azerbaijan and Xiao.

Following his victory, Yasur was congratulated by a mob of fans and pro-Israel supporters on the arena floor who lifted him on their shoulders and waved Israeli flags while celebrating with the gold medalist. Actor Jackie Chan kicked off the para taekwondo competition on Thursday and after Yasur’s win, he hugged the Israeli athlete, congratulating him on his achievement.

Yasur started taekwondo in 2016 after wanted to take up a sport that primarily used the legs. He had both of his hands amputated at the age of 13 after he was electrocuted from accidentally touching a high-voltage electric cable.

Twenty-eight athletes are competing in the 2024 Paralympic Games for Team Israel, including a survivor of the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks, returning gold medalists, and Muslim and Druze athletes.