Wikipedia

Misha Zilberman

Misha Zilberman (Russian: Миша Зильберман; Hebrew: מישה זילברמן; born 25 January 1989) is an Olympic badminton player.[2] Born in Russia, he competed for Israel at the 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2024 Summer Olympics, coming in 33rd, 14th, and 15th respectively, with his 2024 results still to be determined. He also won a bronze medal at the 2022 European Badminton Championships, and bronze medals at the 2019 and 2023 European Games. He is the first Israeli player to win a medal at the European Badminton Championships. Zilberman represented Israel at the 2024 Paris Olympics in badminton in the Men's singles, in his fourth consecutive Olympic Games, and came in 27th.

Misha Zilberman
Миша Зильберман
מישה זילברמן
Zilberman in 2012
Personal information
CountryIsrael
Born (1989-01-25) 25 January 1989 (age 35)[1][2]
Moscow,[1] Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
ResidenceNess Ziona, Israel[3]
Height1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)[1][2]
Weight62 kg (137 lb)[2]
HandednessRight
CoachSvetlana Zilberman & Michael Zilberman
Men's singles
Career record320 wins, 271 losses
Highest ranking33 (18 July 2023)
Current ranking59 (16 July 2024)
Medal record
Men's badminton
Representing  Israel
European Games
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Minsk Men's singles
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Kraków–Małopolska Men's singles
European Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2022 Madrid Men's singles
Maccabiah Games
Gold medal – first place 2013 Modiin Men's singles
Gold medal – first place 2013 Modiin Mixed doubles
Gold medal – first place 2017 Jerusalem Men's singles
Gold medal – first place 2017 Jerusalem Mixed doubles
BWF profile
MotherSvetlana Zilberman
Websitemishazilberman.22web.org

Early and personal life

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Zilberman was born in Moscow, Soviet Russia.[2][4] He is an only child of his father, Michael, and his mother, Svetlana Zilberman.[2] His father was born in Russia in 1945, and immigrated to Israel in 1991, with his wife and son Misha. He worked in Pardes Hannah, and then in Rishon LeZion.[4][5]

Svetlana was born in Belarus in 1958. She began playing badminton at the age of 12, which is how she met Michael, who was her coach.[5][6][7]

Both of his parents come from athletic backgrounds. His father was a member of the Soviet national floor gymnastics team, until he retired as the result of an injury. He then became the coach to the Soviet national badminton team.[8] Svetlana competes in professional badminton.[2][5][7][9] Her greatest accomplishment was winning a bronze medal in the 1986 European Badminton Championships for the USSR.[2][5][6] He describes his mother as "the most important person in my career, the inspiration for my whole life."[10]

Zilberman served in the Israel Defense Forces from August 2007 to August 2010.[11] He lives in Ness Ziona, Israel.[3] He also studied towards a bachelor's degree in mathematics at Tel Aviv University for two years.[12]

Career

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As to his approach to competing in badminton, Zilberman said: "I think about what the opponent playing in front of me will do against me. I must have in my performance arsenal an answer to every move of my opponent, better than what he expects."[12]

Early years

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When he was still a baby, Zilberman used to join his mother at her badminton practice, and with time he began playing himself.[6][13] At the age of 12 he began his serious daily training.[4][6][13] He began to compete in junior badminton tournaments in 2003.[3][2] His club is Kfar Maccabiah.[2] He is coached by both his parents, as his mother coaches him, and his father is head coach of Israel's national badminton team.[2][4][5][7]

Zilberman won the senior Israeli Badminton Championship when he was 16 years old, in 2004.[5][14] In 2006 and 2009 he played mixed doubles with his mother at the Badminton World Championships, as the Championships' first mother-son mixed doubles team.[4][15]

2009–13; 2012 Olympic Games

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In 2009, Zilberman first played mixed doubles with his mother, in the world championships.[16] His mother is also his coach.[16] He said that their relationship on court is "like any mixed doubles players," as they discuss how to improve and win the match, but that off the court "she is my coach, so there is no discussion."[16]

In 2011, Zilberman competed for six months for the Odense badminton club in the professional league in Denmark.[4] In April 2012 he reached the finals of the Tahiti Air Nui International, improving his world ranking by 14 places.[5][17][18] In 2012, he won the Israeli Badminton Championship in both singles and mixed doubles (with his mother).[19] In May 2012 he was ranked # 64 internationally.[6]

 
Misha Zilberman (2012)

Zilberman competed for Israel at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, the first appearance by an Israeli badminton player in the Olympics.[7][13][20] Ranked 33rd in the Olympic rankings in singles, he came in 33rd in the Games.[2][5]

In July 2013, Zilberman won two gold medals at the 2013 Maccabiah Games, one in singles, one in mixed doubles with his mother.[7] In May 2015, he competed in mixed doubles with his mother, who was 56 years old, at the 2015 Sudirman Cup in Dongguan, China.[21]

2014–15; Lagos and Ethiopia titles

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In May 2014, Zilberman won the 37th Israel Badminton Championship in Kibbutz Hatzur, without dropping a set.[22] It was the sixth year in a row that he won the title.[22] He also won the mixed doubles title, with his mother Svetlana.[22]

In June 2014 he won the gold medal in the Lagos International in Nigeria, winning 60% of the points he played. In October 2014, Zilberman then won the Ethiopia International, winning 68% of the points he played.[23] In December 2014, he won a bronze medal in the US Open.[24]

In 2015, Zilberman won the gold medal in the Ethiopia International in September, without losing a game.[25]

Zilberman represented Israel at the 2015 European Games in badminton in men's singles.[2][6] He lost in the round of 16 to Zvonimir Đurkinjak of Croatia in three sets.[2]

2016–19; 2016 Olympic Games; European Games bronze medal

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In 2016 Zilberman won the gold medal in the Suriname International in November, winning all five of his matches, and in doubles he and his mother won the gold medal after winning all four of their matches.[26]

Zilberman competed for Israel at the 2016 Summer Olympics in badminton.[27] Zilberman garnered Israel's first-ever win in Olympic badminton, beating Yuhan Tan of Belgium 22-20 and 22–12, but went 1–1 in his group and did not advance to the next round. Misha ranked 26th in the Olympic rankings in singles, and came in 14th at the Olympic Games.[27][28][29]

Zilberman won a gold medal at the 2017 Maccabiah Games in singles, and another in mixed doubles with his mother.[30][31]

In 2017 Zilberman won the gold medal in the Ethiopia International in September, winning all 10 of his games, and won the mixed doubles gold medal with his mother without losing a game.[32]

In 2018 he won the gold medal at the Lagos International in July.[33] In 2019 Zilberman won the gold medal in the 34th Brazil International Challenge in May, winning all 10 of his games, and defeating Brian Yang of Canada in the final, and won the bronze medal in the 2019 European Games in Minsk, Belarus, in June, won the silver medal in the Lagos International in July, and won the bronze medal in the US Championship in December.[34][35][36][37]

2020–23; 2020 Olympic Games; European Games and European Championships bronze medals

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Zilberman competed for Israel at the 2020 Summer Olympics in 2021 in Tokyo in badminton, in what was his third Olympics. He came in 14th at the Olympic Games, after he defeated world # 15, and 2019 world championship bronze medalist, Sai Praneeth Bhamidipati of India in straight games (he remarked: "Definitely this is the biggest win of my career"), but was defeated by world # 19 Mark Caljouw in three games.[38][39][40][41] He said: "I’m playing smarter and more tactical. When I was young I used to be play a more physical game. Now I’m playing tactical, and I play fewer shots, but creating greater pressure."[38]

At the 2022 European Badminton Championships in Madrid, Spain, in April, Zilberman won a bronze medal as he defeated Luka Ban of Croatia, Kari Gunnarson of Iceland, Mark Caljouw of the Netherlands (ranked # 26 in the world), and 2018 European Championship bronze medalist Brice Leverdez of France in the quarterfinals, before losing to 2020 Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen of Denmark in the semi-finals.[42][43]

Zilberman won the XII Santo Domingo Open 2022 in June, winning 10 of the 11 games he played.[44]

At the BWF World Championships 2022 in August, Zilberman partnered in doubles with his mother who at the age of 64 years old became the oldest player to win a match in competition history.[8] The two of them defeated Egyptian Olympians Adham Hatem Elgamal/Doha Hany.[8][44] The next-youngest badminton player before her on the list was 38 years old.[10]

At the 2023 European Games in Poland, Zilberman won five straight matches before losing in the semi-finals to Christo Popov of France, winning a bronze medal.[45]

2024–present; 2024 Olympic Games

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Zilberman represented Israel at the 2024 Summer Olympics in badminton in the Men's singles, at the Porte de la Chapelle Arena in Paris.[46][47] It was his fourth consecutive Olympic Games; he was the sixth athlete in the history of the Israeli delegation to participate in four Olympics, joining the judoka Ariel Ze'evi, the sailor Yoel Sela, the artistic gymnast Alex Shatilov, the sport shooter Guy Starik, and the synchronized swimmer Anastasia Glushkov.[48][49][46] The Badminton World Federation ranked him in 24th place among the 43 ranked players who competed in the Paris Olympics.[50]

In his first of three first-round matches, in a see-saw battle that was the longest match of the day, Ireland's Nhat Nguyen defeated Zilberman in group play by two games to one.[51][52] In his second match, he was beaten in straight sets by Denmark's reigning Olympic champion Viktor Axelsen, who went on to again win the Olympic gold medal.[53] In his third match, Zilberman defeated Prince Dahal of Nepal in two straight sets, in a total of 36 minutes.[54] Zilberman came in 27th in the competition.[1]

Achievements

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European Games

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Men's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
2019 Falcon Club, Minsk, Belarus   Anders Antonsen 9–21, 11–21   Bronze
2023 Arena Jaskółka, Tarnów, Poland   Christo Popov 10–21, 14–21   Bronze

European Championships

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Men's singles

Year Venue Opponent Score Result
2022 Polideportivo Municipal Gallur, Madrid, Spain   Viktor Axelsen 10–21, 11–21   Bronze

BWF International Challenge/Series (15 titles, 10 runners-up)

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Men's singles

Year Tournament Opponent Score Result
2011 Botswana International   Edwin Ekiring 21–10, 16–21, 20–22   Runner-up
2012 Tahiti International   Tan Chun Seang 29–30, 8–21   Runner-up
2012 Suriname International   Osleni Guerrero 16–21, 21–18, 21–11   Winner
2013 Peru International   Osleni Guerrero 21–17, 13–21, 11–21   Runner-up
2013 Mercosul International   Jan Fröhlich 15–21, 16–21   Runner-up
2013 Hatzor International   Vladimir Malkov 21–17, 22–24, 10–21   Runner-up
2014 Lagos International   Luka Wraber 21–15, 21–12   Winner
2014 Ethiopia International   Luka Wraber 11–7, 11–9, 11–6   Winner
2015 Turkey International   Yuhan Tan 21–12, 13–21, 18–21   Runner-up
2015 Ethiopia International   Luka Wraber 21–13, 21–9   Winner
2016 Suriname International   Maxime Moreels 21–14, 12–21, 21–12   Winner
2017 Mauritius International   Goh Giap Chin 19–21, 14–21   Runner-up
2017 Ethiopia International   Aditya Joshi 21–7, 21–19   Winner
2017 Zambia International   Jonathan Persson 21–15, 21–17   Winner
2018 Lagos International   Misbun Ramdan Misbun 11–21, 21–19, 21–12   Winner
2019 Brazil International   Brian Yang 21–17, 22–20   Winner
2019 Lagos International   Nguyễn Tiến Minh 18–21, 23–25   Runner-up
2022 Santo Domingo Open   Koo Takahashi 21–16, 21–15   Winner
2022 Maldives International   Luís Enrique Peñalver 7–21, 21–11, 18–21   Runner-up
2024 Perú International Series   Jonathan Matias 21–19, 21–16   Winner
2024 Suriname International   Adriano Viale 21–12, 23–21   Winner

Mixed doubles

Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result
2016 Suriname International   Svetlana Zilberman   Alistair Espinoza
  Solangel Guzman 		21–14, 21–15   Winner
2017 Lagos International   Svetlana Zilberman   Duarte Nuno Anjo
  Sofia Setim 		20–22, 21–16, 21–7   Winner
2017 Ethiopia International   Svetlana Zilberman   Sifeddine Larbaoui
  Linda Mazri 		Walkover   Winner
2017 Zambia International   Svetlana Zilberman   Jonathan Persson
  Kate Foo Kune 		Walkover   Runner-up
  BWF International Challenge tournament
  BWF International Series tournament

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "ZILBERMAN Misha". Paris 2024 Olympics.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Baku 2015 1St European Games – Athletes – Zilberman Misha". Baku 2015. Archived from the original on 1 February 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^ a b c "Misha Zilberman". alltournaments.co.uk.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Ori Lewis (26 July 2012). "Zilberman plants Israeli flag on badminton map". Reuters.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Arie Livnat (22 July 2012). "Birdie in hand, Olympics in bush: Israel's self-made badminton champ". Haaretz.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Alon Sinai (22 July 2012). "Introducing Israel's Olympians: Misha Zilberman; The 23-year-old will be one of 40 singles players to compete in London and will be adding another illustrious chapter to his family's history". The Jerusalem Post.
  7. ^ a b c d e Alon Melamed, Boris Weissman (28 July 2013). "Norm Nixon coaching Australia's Masters". The Jerusalem Post.
  8. ^ a b c "Dad, Mum, Badminton". bwfbadminton.com. 4 October 2022.
  9. ^ "Singapore Survive Spanish Assault – Vivo BWF Sudirman Cup Day 1 Session 1". Badminton World Federation.
  10. ^ a b "Feature: A coach, a mother, a partner and a life inspiration". Xinhua. 25 August 2023.
  11. ^ "Misha Zilberman's Official website". 22web.org.
  12. ^ a b ""ראיון השבוע": עם שחקן הבדמינטון מישה זילברמן – Israel Olympics".
  13. ^ a b c "Meet Team Israel: Misha Zilberman". The Times of Israel. 19 July 2012.
  14. ^ "Players Profile – Misha ZILBERMAN". BWF World Superseries.
  15. ^ Rod Gilmour (22 July 2009). "Nathan Robertson and Anthony Clark aim for success at World Championships". The Telegraph.
  16. ^ a b c "BWF Worlds: Mum's the word for record-breaking shuttler Zilberman". The Times of India. 23 August 2022.
  17. ^ Raphaël Sachetat (23 April 2012). "TAHITI INT'L – No final kick for Bruce-Li". Badzine.
  18. ^ "Israeli Athlete Adds Name to Olympic List in London". The Algemeiner. 4 May 2012.
  19. ^ "BadmintonEurope.com – Israel". badmintoneurope.com.
  20. ^ "Medal Count – Olympic Results & Medalists – IOC". london2012.com. Archived from the original on 31 July 2012.
  21. ^ "Intriguing Badminton in Dongguan – Vivo BWF Sudirman Cup 2015". Badminton World Federation.
  22. ^ a b c אהרוני, אורן (31 May 2014). "בדמינטון: זילברמן ופוגץ אלופי ישראל". Ynet.
  23. ^ "Misha Zilberman; 2014". badminton.com.
  24. ^ אהרוני, אורן (14 December 2014). "מישה זילברמן יעלה ל-50 הראשונים בעולם". Ynet – via www-ynet-co-il.translate.goog.
  25. ^ "Misha Zilberman; 2015". badminton.com.
  26. ^ "Misha Zilberman; 2016". badminton.com.
  27. ^ a b Michael Bachner (23 August 2016). "Two Medals and Political Controversies: A Summary of Israel's Rio Olympics". Tazpit News Agency.
  28. ^ Sherwood, Andrew (13 August 2016). "Zilberman wins Israel's first Olympic badminton match". Jewish News. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  29. ^ Emma Lollike (15 August 2016). "Singles' recap before Last 16". badmintoneurope.com.
  30. ^ "Results - 20th Maccabiah 2017". Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2017.
  31. ^ Gabrielle Adams (20 July 2021). "A rich Israeli badminton legacy as Tokyo Olympics loom". The Jerusalem Post.
  32. ^ "Misha Zilberman | TOURNAMENT RESULTS | Profile". bwfworldtourfinals.bwfbadminton.com.
  33. ^ "Misha Zilberman; 2018". badminton.com.
  34. ^ ממן, אסי (30 April 2022). "ענק: מדליית ארד למישה זילברמן באליפות אירופה". Ynet.
  35. ^ "Misha Zilberman; 2019". badminton.com.
  36. ^ אהרני, אורן (21 December 2019). "בדמינטון: מדליית ארד למישה זילברמן באליפות ארה"ב". Ynet.
  37. ^ אהרוני, אורן (28 July 2019). "כסף לזילברמן בניגריה, ארד לפוליקארפובה". Ynet.
  38. ^ a b Dev Sukumar (24 July 2021). "Zilberman Aces Test at Praneeth's Expense". olympics.bwfbadminton.com.
  39. ^ Dev Sukumar (6 August 2021). "Punching Above Their Weight". olympics.bwfbadminton.com.
  40. ^ "Misha ZILBERMAN Biography, Olympic Medals, Records and Age". International Olympic Committee. Archived from the original on 1 December 2022.
  41. ^ "Tokyo Olympics: Praneeth loses opening match on Olympic debut". Hindustan Times. 24 July 2021.
  42. ^ "Misha Zilberman | Profile". bwfworldtourfinals.bwfbadminton.com.
  43. ^ Asi Maman (30 April 2022). "Bronze medal to Misha Zilberman at the European Championships". Time News.
  44. ^ a b "Misha Zilberman; 2022". badminton.com.
  45. ^ "Misha Zilberman; 2023". badminton.com.
  46. ^ a b "Paris 2024 Olympic Games Qualifiers Finalised". olympics.bwfbadminton.com.
  47. ^ "Olympic Schedule – Badminton". Olympics.com. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  48. ^ "בפעם הרביעית ברציפות: מישה זילברמן שוב קיבל את הכרטיס לאולימפיאדה | ישראל היום". www.israelhayom.co.il. 17 June 2024.
  49. ^ "בפעם הרביעית ברציפות: מישה זילברמן שוב קיבל את הכרטיס לאולימפיאדה | ישראל היום". Israel HaYom. 17 June 2024.
  50. ^ צנציפר, נדב (30 April 2024). "בדמינטון: מישה זילברמן הבטיח את הכרטיס למשחקים האולימפיים". Ynet.
  51. ^ Sara Gonzalez Martinez (27 July 2024)."Closing Day 1 with intense clashes," Badminton Europe.
  52. ^ "Paris 2024: Nhat Nguyen digs in to make perfect start," RTE, 27 July 2024.
  53. ^ []
  54. ^ "Nepal’s Prince Dahal defeated by Israeli player at Paris 2024 Olympics," khabarhub.com.
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