THE ISRAELI delegation celebrated a historic performance at the 2025 Deaflympics in Tokyo, highlighted by the country’s first-ever silver medal. (photo credit: Israel Deaf Sports Organization/Courtesy)JERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFFThu, November 27, 2025 at 11:30 PM UTC·2 min readIsrael's curling team is fighting for a historic playoff spot at the European Championships. Despite losses, they feel they're "moving in the right direction" toward their goal.
Israel’s national curling team opened the European Curling Championships Division B in Lahti, Finland, with confidence and a clear goal: to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in its history.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAfter a close loss to Slovakia in the opening match, the team bounced back and delivered an impressive 10-5 win over Hungary.
However, a 13-2 defeat by Belgium and a 12-2 loss to Spain put the team in a tight spot to advance. Team Israel is led by veterans Dmitry Abanin, Aaron Horowitz, and Alex Pokras, who bring experience and composure to the tight matches.
Alongside them is Doron Berger, making his debut in Israel’s national curling program and continuing to impress with accuracy and consistent play. The team’s record now stands at 1-3.
Later this week, Israel will face Ireland, the Netherlands, and host nation Finland – all strong competitors in this division.
Israel national curling team is participating this week at the European Curling Championships in Finland. (credit: Courtesy)Israeli team fights for the Country on Ice, receives fair play
After the win over Hungary, Horowitz said, “We took an important step. We came here to reach the playoffs, and we feel we are moving in the right direction.”
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIsrael’s appearance in Finland also carries broader significance, especially in light of the political tension that arose in the country over Israel’s participation in the recent Eurovision Song Contest.
Team representatives emphasized that within the sporting arena, they receive professional, respectful, and fair treatment from both the hosts and other nations.
They noted that Israel’s presence in the tournament is part of a wider national effort to maintain and strengthen positive relations through sport, dignified representation, and international cooperation.
Pokras added: “The privilege of representing Israel on the international stage, especially during such a challenging period, is a great responsibility and a source of pride. We are fighting for our country, on the ice and beyond.”
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