Egyptian refuses to shake hands with Israeli at Olympics
Judoka Or Sasson through to semi-finals, but first win marred after opponent refuses to shake hands after fight.
Andrew Sherwood is the Jewish News Sport and Community Editor
Or Sasson is through to the semi-finals of the 100+kg judo event, though his first fight on Friday afternoon was marred after his beaten Egyptian opponent refused to shake his hand at the end of the fight.
Always in control of the fight, Sasson beat Islam El Shehaby by an Ippon though that was only the beginning of the drama, as El Shehaby refused to shake his hand, as is traditional in judo.
Sasson, walked off, seemingly in disgust, while El Shehaby was made to return to the mat, by which time the Israeli had walked off.
The Israeli, currently ranked number five in the world, won his next match, soon after, beating Poland’s Maciel Sarnacki with a Waza-ari, and then booked his place in the last four by beating Netherlands’ Roy Meyer, also by a Waza-Ari.
His semi-final clash against Frenchman Teddy Riner, later on Friday evening, is a repeat of this year’s European Championships, which the Israeli lost.
Not the first time the 25-year-old has been involved in similar controversy, Iranian Javad Mahjoub refused to fight him when drawn against him at the 2011 Judo World Cup in Uzbekistan in 2011.
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DISGRACEFUL!
Egyptian refuses to shake hand of Israeli Judoka Or Sasson after being defeated by him at #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/uCbG39V9oW— SussexFriendsIsrael (@SussexFriends) August 12, 2016
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