Israel, Cuba, and Czech Republic Share the Lead as Poland Claws Back
By Cameron W. · Mon, 14 Sep 2026
Three rounds into the Olympiad for People with Disabilities in Samarkand, the tournament has a genuine three-way tie at the top, and the team that stumbled hardest on day one has already put itself back in the conversation.
Three rounds into the Olympiad for People with Disabilities in Samarkand, the tournament has a genuine three-way tie at the top, and the team that stumbled hardest on day one has already put itself back in the conversation.Poland answers its opening-day questionAfter that surprising 2-2 draw with Mongolia in round one, Poland did exactly what a top seed needs to do: it won both of the next two rounds, including a notable 2.5-1.5 victory over the United States in round three. That result also happens to explain a chunk of the USA's own rockier week, more on that below. Poland now sits sixth overall with 5 match points, very much alive, even if the round-one stumble means it's chasing rather than leading for now.The new co-leadersIsrael, Cuba, and Czech Republic have all won every match so far, the only three unbeaten-with-wins-only records left in the field. Israel's round three win over Argentina and Cuba's win over Germany's third team were enough to keep both level at the top, while Czech Republic has quietly matched them, beating Belarus in round two and grinding past Turkiye's B-team equivalent in round three. India and Germany sit just behind at 5 points, in the same bracket as Poland.A mixed week for the AmericansThe United States opened with a clean 4-0 sweep of Zambia, then drew Uzbekistan's top team in round two before running into Poland in round three and losing 2.5-1.5. That's dropped the USA to 3 match points, mid-table for now, a reminder that a dominant round-one score doesn't count for much once the pairings get harder.The teams still searching for a footholdAt the other end, Kenya and Panama remain without a match win through three rounds, and Uganda, Myanmar, and Eswatini have managed only a single point apiece. For several of these federations, this tournament is as much about experience and exposure as it is about results, a pattern that's held true across the Olympiad's other sections in Samarkand this year as well.What's aheadFour rounds remain before the tournament wraps on September 17. With three teams tied at the summit and a cluster of contenders just half a match point back, the back half of the schedule should decide whether Israel, Cuba, or Czech Republic can pull away, or whether Poland's recovery run has enough left in it to complete the comeback.