The Israeli delegation to the Croatian Taekwondo Open held in Zagreb last weekend brought home two medals. Adam Sagir won a silver medal and Ron Attias took the bronze.

Sagir, who competed in the under-140-pound category, defeated his first Croatian opponent 14:6. In his second round he faced off against Europe’s No. Two champion for 2010. His score in that fight was 8:5, followed by two more wins at 9:1 and 9:8. Sagir lost the final bout with a score of 9:13, earning the silver medal.

Ron Attias, competing in the under-120-pound category, had scores of 9:3, and 11:10 and brought home the bronze.

In recent years, the Korean martial art Taekwondo has become a popular Olympic sport around the world, including in Israel. Taekwondo is steadily gaining popularity in Israel, and Israeli sportswoman Bat-El Gaterer represented her country in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The recent competition in Croatia was the first this year in the lead-up to the 2012 Olympics in London. Israel’s most promising candidate for London is Bat-El Gatterer, who continues to improve professionally, winning numerous competitions in Europe and worldwide in recent years.