Iraqi Kickboxer Refuses to Face Israeli Opponent

IQNA – An Iraqi athlete withdrew from an international kickboxing tournament to avoid facing an opponent from the Israeli regime.

Hussein Sami decided to pull out of the kickboxing world cup after the draw pitted him against a contender from the Zionist regime.

The case of athletes forfeiting matches or refusing to shake the hand of their Israeli opponents as a show of support for Palestine and condemnation of the Israeli regime's crimes has been a common occurrence at international sports competitions over the years.

Abderrahmane Boushita of Morocco and Nurali Emomali of Tajikistan both walked away without shaking the hand of Baruch Shmailov following their matches in the Paris Olympics in July this year.

At the Rio 2016 Olympics, Egyptian judoka Islam El Shehaby refused to shake the hand of his Israeli opponent after their first-round match in the 100-kilogram weight category.

At the Beijing 2008 Olympics, Syrian swimmer Bayan Jumah pulled out of the 50-meter freestyle segment in order to avoid facing Israeli swimmer Anya Gostomelsky.

In the same event, Shehaby’s teammate Joud Fahmy deliberately lost her second-round match to avoid facing her Israeli opponent Gili Cohen.

At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Algerian judoka Nourine grabbed headlines globally after withdrawing from the competition to avoid facing Butbul.

She is now serving 10-year ban, which has virtually ended her career.

Mohamed Abdalrasool, a Sudanese martial artist, also refused to turn up for his match against Israeli judoka Butbul as an expression of support for Palestine.

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