‘Not what the Olympics are about’
EGYPTIAN fighter Islam El Shehaby was in a tough spot entering his first-round match against Israel’s Or Sasson in the judo competition in Rio.
But in a major breach of judo etiquette, El Shehaby refused to shake Sasson’s hand after he extended it towards him. Judo players typically bow or shake hands at the beginning and end of a match, as a sign of respect in the Japanese martial art.
The 35-year-old from Cairo had come under enormous pressure from Islamist-leaning and nationalist voices in his homeland to withdraw from the fight entirely.
It’s not an issue new to world sport. Last year the ATP was forced to investigate the withdrawal of Tunisian Malek Jaziri from a tennis match he was leading one set to love.
If he’d won Jaziri, would have played Israeli Dudi Sela in the next round.
Ahead of El Shehaby’s Olympic opener a TV host on an Al-Sharq Islamist-leaning network urged him to pull out.
“My son watch out, don’t be fooled or fool yourself thinking you will play with the Israeli athlete to defeat him and make Egypt happy,” he said. “Egypt will cry. Egypt will be sad and you will be seen as a traitor and a normaliser in the eyes of your people.”
He was defeated by Sasson — the fifth-ranked fighter in Rio — with two throws for an automatic victory with about a minute and a half remaining in the bout.
Afterwards, El Shehaby lay flat on his back for a moment before standing to take his place before Sasson, in front of the referee.
But in a major breach of judo etiquette, El Shehaby refused to shake Sasson’s hand after he extended it towards him. Judo players typically bow or shake hands at the beginning and end of a match, as a sign of respect in the Japanese martial art.
http://www.news.com.au/sport/olympics/not-what-the-olympics-are-about/news-story/1b230f24fe64b5ca638ef037a53e7a43if
