Asaf Yasur (Hebrew: אסף יסעור; born 17 April 2002) is an Israeli Paralympic champion and world champion taekwondo athlete. He was world champion in both 2021 and 2023. He represented Israel at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, and won the gold medal in the Men's 58 kg.
.jpg) Yasur at the 2024 Summer Paralympics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Birth name | Asaf Yasur אסף יסעור | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | Israeli | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 17 April 2002 Jerusalem, Israel | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Para taekwondo | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Sharabi Martial Arts | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Yechiam Sharabi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Paralympic finals |  (2024) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World finals |  (2021, 2023) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Regional finals |  (2024) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Early life
editYasur is from Jerusalem, Israel.[1] He lost both his hands at age 12. He was trying to retrieve a lost ball, when he was accidentally electrocuted by a high-voltage electric cable and suffered injuries that required amputation.[2][1]
Career
editYasur trains at the Sharabi Martial Arts club in Ramla, Israel, coached by Israeli trainer Yechiam Sharabi.[3]
2019–23
editIn 2019 Yasur gained his first international medal, achieving second place at the Mexico Para Taekwondo Open Championships.[4]
Yasur won the gold medal in the 2021 World Para-Taekwondo Championships in Istanbul.[5] After winning the 2023 World Para Taekwondo Championships in Mexico, Yasur qualified for the 2024 Summer Paralympics.[6]
2024–present; Paris Paralympics championship
editHe won a gold medal for Israel at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, competing at 22 years of age.[1] He beat Turkey’s Ali Can Özcan 19-12 in the final of the men’s -58kg weight class.[1] He said: "With everything my country is going through… this is the least I could do for my country," and that he hoped for the return of the hostages from Gaza, an end to the war, and for "all the soldiers to return home healthy and whole."[1]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e "Israeli Paralympics athlete wins gold medal in taekwondo," The Jewish Chronicle.
- ^ "Israeli who lost both hands aged 13 takes gold at World Para Taekwondo Championships". timesofisrael.com.
- ^ "From amputee to Israel's martial arts champion". Ynet.
- ^ "Home happiness at Mexico Para Taekwondo Open". paralympic.org.
- ^ "Israeli Para-Taekwondo athlete wins Grand Prix silver". israelhayom.com.
- ^ "Israel first nation to register for World Para Taekwondo Championships". insidethegames.biz.
External links
edit
- Asaf Yasur at TaekwondoData.com
- Asaf Yasur at The-Sports.org
- Asaf Yasur on Instagram
