Jordan athlete refuses taekwondo match with Israeli player, withdraws

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
31 Jul 2022 22:58
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Maysir Al-Dahamsheh has withdrawn from the taekwondo championship in Bulgaria.

Maysir Al-Dahamsheh, the star player of the Jordanian national taekwondo team.

Jordanian athlete Maysir Al-Dahamsheh has withdrawn from the taekwondo championship in Bulgaria for her refusal to compete against an Israeli opponent - a staunch move against normalization.

Al-Dahamsheh withdrew from a bronze medal tournament to oppose normalizing relations with the occupying regime.

Jordanian national taekwondo player Maysir Al-Dahamsheh has withdrawn from the world championship held in Bulgaria to avoid facing an Israeli player. pic.twitter.com/APWSW9dEHs
— AlQastal News (@QastalNewsEn) July 31, 2022

In a similar situation two months ago, Jordanian national fencing player Eyas Al-Zamer withdrew from a world championship where he had to compete against an Israeli opponent in Dubai, UAE.

البطلة #ميسر_الدهامشة

رفضت التطبيع مع اسرائيل بقرار منها، كيف لا وجدها شهيد على أرض فلسطين.
وصلت إلى نهائيات بطولة العالم للتايكواندو في بلغاريا، وفازت على لاعبات اليونان ودومينيكا.
تحية للبطلة النشمية الطموحة، قرارك ورفضك للتطبيع ميدالية ذهبية. #الأردن pic.twitter.com/a7pIIcUWnk
— عمر الدهامشة (@Omar_Dhamsha) July 31, 2022

Sports boycott

Iranian athletes who refused to normalize with the occupying regime in Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games were met with praise and welcoming by Iran's leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei.

he hailed the bravery of the Iranian athletes refusing to recognize “Israel” by not facing its representatives despite the looming consequences, describing the situation as "a very important issue."

"The ruthless, genocidal, and illegitimate regime is trying to gain legitimacy by participating in international sports arenas, and the world of arrogance is helping it, but honorable sports officials and athletes should not be passive in this regard at all," the Iranian leader stressed.