The 18th Maccabiah is only one year away, but it is already facing financial problems. The planned budget was $18 million, including $14 million from the athletes themselves. However, the weakening dollar against the shekel has increased expenses and created a $3.3 million deficit. "We cannot increase the burden on the participating athletes," said Itamar Herman, the chairman of the committee that is organizing the games. "In addition to $2,580, each athlete must pay for his [or her] plane flight, preparation and equipment, which effectively increases the cost to an average of around $4,500. If we do not find sources to fund the gap, the games will be in real danger," he said. (Rami Hipsh)
Shahar Peer defeated Hungary's Melinda Czink 6-0, 3-6, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals of the WTA tournament in Memphis, where she will face Sofia Arvidsson of Sweden. Leading 3-2 in the second set, Peer lost the next six games before reeling off a six-game win streak herself. The third-seeded Israeli is the highest seed remaining in the tournament after Venus Williams, the defending champion, and Tatiana Golovin both lost in the first round. (Rami Hipsh)
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Elitzur Ramle has a 27-point advantage (78-51) heading into tonight's EuroCup Women matchup in Italy against Taranto in the return leg of their two-game quarterfinal series (9:30 P.M.). Tali Noy can remember when, while playing for Ramat Hasharon in 1994, her team had a 25-point lead from the first leg only to lose to another Italian club, Priolo, by 26 points in the second. "This whole week, I have been telling the girls what happened to us there," Noy said. "The officiating today is not like it was then, but it is very difficult to play in Italy. This time we are going in as the underdogs, and that's good for us." In another EuroCup Women quarterfinal series, Ramat Hasharon visits Galatasaray (8 P.M.), hoping to overcome a five-point deficit from the first leg. (Arie Livnat)
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